The New York Rangers began their four-game, Pacific Division road trip against the Calgary Flames and got off on the wrong foot. In a debilitating 5-1 loss, it was another head-scratching performance.
Here are three takeaways from what was labeled as a much closer game, but ultimately wasn't even close.
Noah Laba gets first career goal
The only real positive remark from this game on the Blueshirts side was rookie Noah Laba netting his first career goal. It would stand to be the only tally for the Rangers in this one-sided affair, but it was a nice thing to see from the kid.
Laba has high expectations, especially with the absence of Vincent Trocheck and the uncertainty of his return. Can he keep this momentum going as the third-line center and potentially earn his way into some top-six minutes?
Leadership needs to step in here
The Rangers have now allowed six goals against San Jose, and then five more against Calgary. The time for captain J.T. Miller and head coach Mike Sullivan to come together to whip this team into shape is now.
At this point of the young season, there should be an identity attached to this team. Either they are going to be in these high-scoring games, with little to no defense, or they will try and play a more strategic game, with focus on the wear-and-tear of the opponent. There is no indication as to what this team is at the moment, and that is not a good sign.
A Flames team with only a single win and a forced overtime to give them three points on the year, just took this Rangers team for a walk. This was a truly embarrasing effort.
Shesterkin on a downward spiral
As mentioned above, Shesterkin has allowed six goals and then another five in back-to-back games. After such a strong start to the year, and the word Vezina being thrown directly at him, it has gotten bad quickly for the franchise goaltender.
If the Rangers want to turn this sluggish start around, and try and make it back to the Stanley Cup playoffs, Shesterkin is going to have to quickly forget these two starts. The time for revival starts with the next road matchup in Vancouver on October 28.