Blue Line Station
Fansided

New York Rangers: Lack of hustle, other takeaways from Buffalo loss

By Andrew Steele-Davis

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 07: Ryan Strome #16 of the New York Rangers leaves the ice following a 3-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres at Madison Square Garden on February 07, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 07: Ryan Strome #16 of the New York Rangers leaves the ice following a 3-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres at Madison Square Garden on February 07, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 07: Buffalo Sabres Defenceman Brandon Montour (62) checks New York Rangers Right Wing Jesper Fast (17) against the boards during the first period of the National Hockey League game between the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Rangers on February 7, 2020 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 07: Buffalo Sabres Defenceman Brandon Montour (62) checks New York Rangers Right Wing Jesper Fast (17) against the boards during the first period of the National Hockey League game between the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Rangers on February 7, 2020 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Outhustled and outclassed

This was just a bad effort from the New York Rangers from start to finish.

After injecting some fresh hope into their chase for the postseason with an outstanding showing against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Blueshirts were at the opposite end of the spectrum on Friday.

They were outclassed, outfought and outhustled in almost every single department, with the two goals scored late in the third period acting as nothing more than eyewash.

And, let’s not forget, the Rangers were not playing world beaters here with the Sabres slumping badly prior to Friday.

But the Blueshirts made the Sabres look a whole five levels better than they actually are, and that is a crime in itself.

The Rangers had a real chance to build some momentum and fatten up their record, but instead they put up an absolute stinker that left a bad taste in the mouth.

It was just a performance devoid of any spirit and that was the most concerning takeaway from Friday’s ugly loss to Buffalo.

Home/Analysis