Should this really surprise you at this point. The Rangers give up a goal in the final seconds of the third period and then continue to disappoint no more that two minutes into Overtime to lose a game. It looked like shades of the playoff series against the Senators last year. They can not close out games.

So here we are, 1-5-1 (Really 1-6) 7 games into the season. We are in the basement in nearly every important stats category (Goals/Game- 25th; Goals Against- 24th; Power Play- 11th; Penalty Kill- 30th) and in the basement of the Metropolitan division. Lets look at last night’s game and start backwards looking at OT and the end of the Third period.

First and foremost, for anyone who has ever played hockey or even WATCHED hockey, you know to never, ever, ever clear the puck up the middle of the ice. Well…..that’s exactly what McDonagh did and it cost us the game. Instead up trying to go up the boards and out of our defensive end he puts one right into Sidney’s leg who then had the ability to pass it to a very wide open Malkin and put it into a very wide open goal. Just a bone-headed play from normally one of the smartest guys on the ice. The last minute of regulation wasn’t much better, but good things happen when you throw the puck towards the net as shown by Sidney Crosby. Frankly, the Rangers need to be better defensively with less than a minute to go. Hank needs to be in better position on the post, and the team can’t allow puck control below the goal line at the time in the game. Now….to go to the beginning of the game.

43 seconds.

That’s all it took for Phil Kessel to give his team a lead. I’m pretty sure every game this season the Rangers have given up a goal within the first 5 minutes of a game…even worse it seems that in at least 3-4 games it’s been with in the first 2 minutes! These slow starts need to end. AV needs to get his guys to the rink earlier or they need to change their pregame routine because this is completely unacceptable. A poor defensive shift change allowed Phil to go into the Rangers zone in full stride and rocket one past Hank blocker side. Hagelin added to the woes about 15 minutes later with practically the same exact play. Came into the zone untouched and was able to put a very poor (aka save-able) shot by Lundquvist.

Honestly, I would have been happier with a blowout loss because the second period gave me hope only to have my heart ripped out. Desharnais started the scoring with a great snap shot to start the engine for the Rangers and from the it looked like we had finally gotten into a groove. We had the crowd back into the game and things were looking up. Having Crosby in the box for six total minutes in the period helped a lot because during that time we saw power play goals from Buchnevich and J.T. Miller. Credit to Kreider because he did a great job screening Murray in front which allowed the goals to happen. Finally we had a lead……..and promptly lost it again with a really dumb slashing penalty to allow the Penguins to tie it up at 3 going into the final period.

Lastly, Grabner had one of the best goals I have seen in a while with a beautiful give and go with Desharnais. But obviously since we Tarantino’d this blog you all know how it ends. I’m truly at a loss for what to do or where to go at this point. Seems like we will be in for a very rough season.

LGR