Lundqvist Is The One Man Keeping The New York Rangers Treading Water
Two consecutive losses, two of them. What make it worse is that the team looked good in neither.
And do you know another thing that makes it even more worse: Henrik Lundqvist.
No, he is far, far, far away from being blamed for the team’s recent struggles.
New York Rangers
If you’re a New York Rangers fan thinking that, well, you might have to reevaluate your life and visit your local eye doctor to make sure you have 20-20 vision.
This year was supposed to be better, a season where the team learned from their past and took charge of their fates. However, the sins of season’s past remain, haunting the team on the ice.
Thursday night was a perfect example. How many times can you let a team like the Montreal Canadiens, get behind your defense and have prime scoring chances on your prized goalie?
The alarming thing is that the team in front of Lundqvist continues to replicate their mistakes game after game. The defense leaves a man open on the backend, or they just let their opponent walk on up and ask what suit the Rangers goalie is going to where tomorrow. (sarcastic, of course)
But, the point is the Rangers are still leaning on him to bail them out, just like they have the past decade of his career. The team knows he is not getting younger. But, he is still performing like he did when he first came in the league in 2005.
Rarely do we see an off-game from him. However, when Lundqvist is off, he still tries to salvage what he can and stay with it that night.
However, a man at Lundqvist’s age cannot do it alone. He is going to need support on the ice from his teammates, if they are going to make this work.
As a fan, when you see Lundqvist make save after save worthy of being on NHL highlights only to lose for the lack of support, it feels like wasted effort. He’s doing everything humanly (or inhumanly in his case) possible to keep the Rangers in the game.
That’s what makes the past two games frustrating. Against the Winnipeg Jets and Canadiens, too many looks at Lundqvist’s doorstep were seen. And if it weren’t for his efforts to be “King-like”, then the games would have easily gotten out of hand.
Derick Brassard (16) is just one of several Rangers that needs to step up on the ice. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
In the two losses, the Rangers have scored one goal, ONE! While they’ve given up seven to their opposition. And that includes a non-lethal power play unit that is 0 for 10 these past two games.
Sure, your team is going to lay an egg every now and then, but sooner or later this will come back to bite them. It’s an all-around team break down.
Maybe, it’s early season jitters or what not. However, the Rangers play as of late is uncharacteristic of their earlier wins against the Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Tomorrow, they welcome the New Jersey Devils to Madison Square Garden for an afternoon game. Coming off a 2-1 shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks, the Devils would love to pour salt in the wound of Rangers fans and extend the Blueshirts’ losing streak. They will be hungry for their first win of the season, and may have a “nothing to lose” attitude tomorrow.
And with a team with no high expectations except for improving their overall game has that approach, it makes them dangerous to play against.
Just five games into the season, it’s not panic mode. But, it is a cause for concern.
Next: No Home Spoiler This Time by the Rangers
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