The New York Rangers had a layup against a team that has not been able to score a lot of goals and let in way too many, and they blew it. In a 5-2 bludgeoning, the St. Louis Blues handled the Blueshirts with ease. But, the Rangers lost this game this afternoon, when they destroyed themselves by causing one too many distractions.
How do they pick up the pieces and get back to being a winning hockey club?
Easy two points, gone
Not to discredit the St. Louis Blues, who won their first game under new head coach Jim Montgomery in fantastic fashion, but this should have been a cut-and-dry Rangers win. Sure, they were without Chris Kreider, who has nine goals on the year and is well on his way to another 30-goal potential season, but this was a showcase of offensive depression.
Additionally, the defense put up yet another horrendous performance with a third straight night in which they allowed 40+ shots to reach their goaltender. There was only so much that Igor Shesterkin could do, as he did not show his best either. All around, this was a lay-up and there is no denying that this should have been an easy win to help generate a new win-streak for the Rangers.
Self-destruction imminent
It is only a matter of time before these rumors of trades and wavering come to be truth. This team is beating itself up from the inside, and the once steady and consistent gameplay has now turned to head-scratching confusion. What is happening to the Rangers, and can they fix this problem fast?
The matchup against the Blues was the 20th game of the year, leaving eh Rangers with a record now standing at 12-7-1. They sit seven points back of the New Jersey Devils, who sit in the front of the Metropolitan Division. There is a long way to go on this season, but father time waits for no one, and before you know it, it will be the trade deadline.
If General Manager Chris Drury is serious about wanting to dismantle the core and disrupt this roster, it would be better now rather than later, while there is still a season to salvage. The longer this goes on, and the longer that many start to speculate and configure the possible moves this team might make, the worse it will make things.