Zero Hour: Rangers No-Shows In 4-0 Loss To Canadiens, Win Streak Ends at 7

This morning’s post game will be in an abbreviated format not because it’s coming the day after the game, but because the New York Rangers forgot to show up last night in Montreal and gave little to discuss.

A team that generates 15 shots (5 each period) will not win very many games in the NHL. A team that chases the puck all night, refusing to engage in the play or use their legs, and put forth a general solid effort won’t win much, either. That’s exactly what the Rangers were last night.

Join me after the jump for my game thoughts.

• The game might have been different if Marian Gaborik scores on a brilliant pass from Michael Sauer nearly 2 minutes in. Instead, Gaborik was denied and the team didn’t generate another quality chance like that the rest of the game.
• Brandon Prust might have been the only other effective player for the Rangers last night along with Gaborik. After that, everyone had a suspect game. In a manner of speaking, they sucked from “head to toe.”
• Michael Del Zotto is stepping up on a PK to intercept a pass when he should be staying back guarding Erik Cole is a prime example of how he’s Jekyll and Hyde on the ice sometimes. I don’t want him to lose his aggressiveness; I just want him to pick his spots carefully.
• Don’t put the blame on Marty Biron for tonight’s game. I will fault him for Gionta’s first goal, terrible angle and even worse goaltending to let it in the back of the net. However, if not for Biron, the game is a massacre.
• If time of possession were actually calculated, I would imagine the Rangers had the puck for less than 5 minutes.
• Normally I don’t rant about the officiating in the NHL but my god, it has been awful at times, especially in Rangers games. Why on earth Andre Deveaux got 9 minutes for his altercation the third period is beyond me. He had TWO people coming after him. Prust’s “roughing” penalty on Carey Price while going hard to the net was a joke. Michael Sauer’s punishment for not playing the puck for an icing call while shorthanded was the biggest culprit of the night. If the refs can decide to levy a call like that, then you’re pretty much giving them free reign to make any call they want that allows for judgment on their part. If this is what the NHL wants in terms of an on-ice product, they’re going to start losing die-hard fans who long for the days of tough, physical, smash-mouth, grind-it-out HOCKEY.
• The fact the Rangers could not take advantage of the Canadiens having THREE rookies on defense last night is an indictment of how awful they played offensively. I wonder how easy of a shutout this was for Carey Price, who was barely tested all game.
• Rangers have three days before their next game. I would think taking game film of how Montreal moves the puck on the power play and gets shots on net would be the first thing on the agenda.
• There was some talk prior to the game that the Rangers impressive early record is because of the lower quality opponents they’ve played so far. Last night’s loss to a good Montreal team will add fuel to that fire.

Despite the loud thud the Rangers dropped against Montreal, the loss is not the end of the world. It’s only November and there’s plenty of hockey ahead. The 14 points gained in the standing will go a long way when the schedule gets tougher and the grind becomes daily. Take this as a “forget it, let’s move on” game.

I’m sure A Winning Habit was smiling from ear-to-ear last night. Check out their thoughts today.

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