The Rangers flat out did not show up last night. After seemingly resolving their defensive issues, New York regressed back to the dark ages with their performance against the Flames. If I was at the game and paid for my ticket, I would have asked for a refund as the team stole money based on their effort - or lack thereof - and manner in which they played.
Game recap:
Ugly, just ugly. New York embarrassed themselves first on the ice and then with their comments post game. Show some heart, some fire, some level of caring rather than the trite responses to questions we heard and saw. I went to bed last night hoping we would hear that coach Peter Laviolette put the team through a bag skate this morning. The best would have been if he channelled his inner Herb Brooks and told the team since they didn't skate last night, they would skatre after the game. Alas, neither was the case.
Peter Baugh and Vince Mercogliano spelled out the ugly numbers from the game after Steve Valiquette took the team to task online. On air during the game, both Sam Rosen and especially Joe Micheletti were astonished at how poorly the Rangers were playing. but the bigger focus was on the lack of effort. As others have said, it's almost like the team collectively decided they were going to throw in the towel and try to get Laviolette fired.
At five-on-five, the Rangers did not lead in shots with a single line combination on the ice for at least one minute together, according to Natural Stat Trick. They also failed to generate on the power play. Vladar did not have to make a single save when the Rangers were on the power play.
In total, the Flames had 68.44 percent of the expected goal share at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.
They were charged with 31 turnovers (including 20 giveaways) and credited with only five high-danger scoring chances, according to Natural Stat Trick, which tied for their second-lowest HDCF total of the season, as did their 13 shots. The only performance that registered as worse was when they posted 12 SOG in an embarrassing 5-0 loss to the rival Devils on Dec. 23.
The Flames have the worst offense statistically in the league. Calgary has the worst road penalty kill. They were hammered versus Toronto the night before, especially on the PP. What happened Wednesday? Just 15 shots and a pitiful effort
Here is the fun part, everyone watches. You want to go through the motions, it's noted by other GMs and coaches. When contracts are being doled out or trades discussed, this will hopefully be remembered.The media has ripped the players for their lack of effort. The fans have as well. But here is the sad part, from watching and listening to the comments, they don't care, or at least gave off the appearance they don't. I get they have to flush what happened quickly and move on. That doesn't mean you don't show emotion or get angry. I know many were happy to see Jacob Trouba go, but I do wonder if he is if he might have blistered the paint off the walls.
#NYR Mika Zibanejad: “No execution. I thought we were slow. I think we got away from the things that we did well in the previous games. We were just slow executing, slow moving the puck, slow getting open. We’re just standing still in the neutral zone, we get pucks deep, we have…
The stink was almost in every phase. More turnovers than a bakery, yes, it's trite, but it works. Undisciplined coverage in every zone, especially their own, Ill-timed and ill-advised penalties, including Matt Rempe's which led to what was Matthew Coronado's game-winning goal on the PP. Later, JT Miller continued his penchant of taking bad penalties.
When New York finally got a power play, they did nothing. in fast, they did less than nothing, as they couldn't even gain the zone consistently. When they did, the Rangers were unable to either maintain possession or connect on passess sufficiently to get a good shot on net. At times it looked like this was the first time they had played together as a unit.
One person showed up last night, Igor Shesterkin. If not for how well he played, New York would have lost 5- or 6-1. High danger chance after high danger chance was surrendered and then stoned by Igor. He could have sued for non-support as the five players in front of him did more damage than good.
You all know I don't ever advocate firing someone, but a massive change is needed. Blaming the coach might be shortsighted because this is the third coach where we have seen this occur. At some point we need to hold the player accountable. Running it back with the same core certainly has not worked. Drury made some moves to create a new core,more is needed. One of the top two picks is gone, the second has reverted back to what we saw prior to last year. The player development is weak. Phil Housley has made the defense worse, as some who saw his work in Buffalo predicted. Drury has shown he has no conscience and no qualms about making tough decisions. Settle in, barring a complete 180 degree change, lost more is forthcoming.
With the Rangers’ loss, the Canadiens, who have two games in hand, hopped into the second wild-card spot. The Islanders, also with two games in hand, pulled within two standings points of the Rangers and are locked in a three-way tie with the Blue Jackets (two games in hand) and Red Wings (one game in hand). All this shows is that Rangers, with 13 games remaining, shot themselves in the foot with yesterday's no-show.
Tomorrow's game is versus Toronto. The same Maple Leafs team who waxed the Flames 6-2 on Monday. The same team that defeated Colorado 2-1. You can fill in the blank of the percentage level of confidence we have in a win.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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