New York Rangers Take on Panthers in Search to Rebound

New York Rangers Host Panthers

The New York Rangers had a rough west coast trip. It started off well with a win in Anaheim then slowly slipped away. Their OT loss in LA was avoidable and the third period debauchery in San Jose was inexcusable.

Tonight, they look to rebound and regain momentum as their first of two home games will be against the Florida Panthers.

Good news for the Rangers is, even though they have slipped in the standings the Panthers are right there with them.

Rangers & Panthers on an Even Playing Field

Both teams are on a one game skid and neither has played that well lately. Florida has posted a record of 5-4-1 over their last ten games, as the New York Rangers stumble back east after a rough road trip with a record of 4-4-2 over their last ten.

More from Rangers News

• Blake Wheeler’s Broadway Calling: Why He Chose the Rangers
• Rangers’ Playoff Redemption Recipe: Grit and Fresh Hopes
• Brennan Othmann and Will Cuylle Set to Shine in the NHLPA Rookie Showcase
• Chris Kreider has had quite the Summer
• Andy Hosler Takes Helm as Head Athletic Trainer for the New York Rangers, Succeeding Jim Ramsay

Each team is in the upper crest of the NHL when it comes to shooting efficiency. However, each team was insanely out shot in their last few games. The Rangers were out shot 52-26 when they put on a “how to lay dead” clinic in San Jose, as the Sharks won 4-1. The Panthers also were out shot 30-26 this past Saturday when they lost to the Detroit Red Wings 5-3.

Both of these games were terrible for similar reasons. The Rangers blew a shot at ending a west coast road trip with a win and the Panthers led the Red Wings by two goals heading into the third.

Each team is desperate for a win. Marc Staal let us know how he felt about the Blueshirts “effort” in San Jose,

"“It was ugly as it’s ever been. That type of game like this at this time of year is garbage. We have to be better. We’re just trying to make plays that aren’t there. We aren’t making plays when we are there. We’re fighting it all the way.”"

Saturday in Cali, the Rangers absence in the defensive zone left Henrik Lundqvist out to dry. He may have let by 4 goals, but when people try to crucify him, do they realize Dan Girardi is doing as good of a job as I could defending his net and helping his goalie?

New York Needs a New Mindset

The Rangers need to play with a burning desire to win and that doesn’t seem to be there. They have about a month left to get their act together or this season will be a complete wash.

The immense depth the New York Rangers have on their roster is amazing. J.T. Miller needs to play more consistently as does Dan Girardi, and it may be too soon to dig at E. Staal and Rick Nash, but they both need to start scoring like we all know they can. The Rangers are healthy for the first time in a long time and it is time they start playing like it.

Next: The Rangers Should Have Sold at Deadline

It would be a shame to see the Rangers go one and done this off-season. Not only would they have disapointed their front office, who did a rather decent job adding to their line-up just before the deadline, but they would also screw themselves come draft time. This season essentially means nothing if they cannot at least make a run in the off-season and in order to do that they need to gather themselves and hit their stride soon. Time is running out.