New York Rangers stock market: Risers and fallers from week 12/25-12/31

The New York Rangers have had a whirlwind of a week. Playing only two games, they have already lost one of their most important players to injury. They have had their lineup shaken up, down, and sideways by a coach who should have been fired in October.

The Rangers are in trouble. They are continuing to win games they should not be due to incredible goaltending. Their head coach, Alain Vigneault, has shaken up the lines in ways that just do not make sense.

Before the game against the Washington Capitals, the new lines were announced and no one knew what to do with them. Why was the KZB line broken up, Brady Skjei on the third defensive pairing and Ondrej Pavelec starting a game against a divisional rival and potential playoff match up?

Nevertheless, the Rangers squeaked out a shootout win. Fans were not given the chance to enjoy the win with Chris Kreider’s mysterious injury looming. Thursday morning it was announced that he would be sidelined indefinitely with a blood clot in his right arm.

The Rangers once again went to a shootout against the Detroit Red Wings but lost 3-2. Kevin Hayes played possibly his best game as a Ranger and Vinni Lettieri made his NHL debut. Lettieri scored his first NHL goal, the first Rangers to do this in their first NHL game since Derek Stepan.