Rangers zapped by Lightning in “embarrassing” loss (TB 6 v NYR 2)

By Anthony Scultore |

May 19, 2015

MSL misses wide (Photo by Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)

Just like Henrik Lundqvist said, this is a loss we are going to “wipe away”. It was easily their stinker of these playoffs. Even the game 2 loss against the Penguins wasn’t nearly as bad as this one.

The Rangers were invited to play Tampa Bay Lightning hockey and they got burned. From the miscue that led to Tyler Johnson’s first of three to the 6th Tampa goal of the night, the Rangers were undisciplined and sloppy.

[su_quote cite=”Blueshirts United” url=”https://www.blueshirtsunited.com/article/series-even-1-1-after-rangers-lose-game-two-6-2″]”We’re in the Eastern Conference Final, we’re not playing in December,” said Stepan. “We’re playing a really good team with a really good power play, and you can see how detailed in the playoffs you have to be. You make mistakes and they put them in the back of the net.”[/su_quote]

That was actually putting it nicely by Derek Stepan who was one of the few Rangers that played well yesterday. The Captain, Ryan McDonagh didn’t mince any words though.

[su_quote cite=”Blueshirts United” url=”https://www.blueshirtsunited.com/article/series-even-1-1-after-rangers-lose-game-two-6-2″]”I don’t even know what to call this game, I just want to get rid of it” stated Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh after the game. “It’s embarrassing. There are a lot of things you want to say right now, but talking doesn’t do much.”[/su_quote]

Too many Rangers were passengers last night and many of them were very undisciplined. Rick Nash needs to assert himself at this point. While I don’t agree with NBC’s Keith Jones that he is shrinking as the playoffs move along, he does need to be more of an offensive force.

Marty St. Louis did struggle at the beginning of the game, and his misplay on the 5-3 led to the shorthanded goal, but he actually played with a ton of effort in the game. He and miscue partner Dan Boyle potted the assists on both Rangers goals.

Bottom line, the Rangers need to be better and I believe they will be. Coach Alain Vigneault expects the same. “They’ve responded the right way all year,” he said afterwards and he’s been pretty on point since taking over.

Game 3 is tomorrow at 8PM.