New York Rangers: Comparing starting slumps, 2013-14 vs today

Shaky starts four years apart

Given how the 2013-14 season ended, it is easy to forget how much of fiasco the beginning was.

The Rangers dropped their opener to a draft lottery-bound team, the Arizona Coyotes. Then a few games later, they were humiliated by the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks to the tune of two goals for and 15 against. Many remember the Sharks game as the one where Tomas Hertl sent Martin Biron permanently to the broadcasters’ booth.

Games did not improve much from there. The Rangers bottomed out at 2-6-0 after eight games following a one goal loss to a rival, the Philadelphia Flyers.

Looking at the start of this season, there are a few similarities. The team was coming off a disappointing second round playoff loss. They then have an opening night loss to a lottery bound team, this time the Colorado Avalanche. The team (hopefully) bottomed out after eight games (1-5-2) following a one goal loss to a rival, the New York Islanders.

Then, as now, Vigneault was the head coach. He was in no danger of being let go since it was his first year with the team. Now, four years later, Vigneault is no longer untouchable.