Rangers need a change, should start in net

Oct 19, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers goalie Antti Raanta (32) makes a save against the San Jose Sharks during the first period of an NHL hockey game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Put away the torches and pitch forks. I’m sure many of you have read the title and declared me the biggest moron that has ever graced the internet, which is saying quite a bit.

This piece isn’t meant to decry Henrik Lundqvist and belittle all he’s done for the New York Rangers. Hell, it’s not to even say that he shouldn’t be the goalie long-term as he has been one of the game’s elite for nearly his entire NHL tenure, which spans more than a decade.

But right now, the Rangers are in a free fall. They’ve lost seven of their last nine, most of them in ugly fashion. The defense usually gets the bulk of the blame and for good reason. Dan Girardi and Marc Staal have not played up to standards they’ve set over the last few seasons. Ryan McDonagh can only carry so much of the burden. Even infusing some youth in Dylan McIlrath and Brady Skjei couldn’t help write that ship.

So now that the defense is, on paper at least, 100 percent healthy again thanks to the returns of Girardi (knee) and Kevin Klein (oblique), there needs to be some consideration for change around the rest of the lineup.

The lineup is what it is at this point. There doesn’t seem to be much in the way of viable options waiting in the AHL and, aside from potentially signing Pavel Buchnevich, there isn’t anyone on the prospect level ready to step up and make an impact.

So that leaves us to look towards the nets.

Lundqvist’s season numbers are just fine — 16-10-3 record, .922 save percentage, 2.51 goals against average — but his struggles of late are no secret. Over his last seven appearances, he’s surrendered four or more goals in five of those. He has posted a .900 save percentage or better in just one of his last seven appearances.

The Rangers are struggling to keep pucks out of the net and Lundqvist has shown of late that he just isn’t able to bail out the team like he was able to earlier in the season. Could it be fatigue? Is he finally starting to show his age as he nears his 34th birthday? Whatever it is, maybe it is time for The King to get a little bit of a break.

Which brings us to Raanta. With just eight starts this season through 37 games, there hasn’t been much of chance for Raanta to do. But with the Rangers struggling, perhaps he should get the chance to help turn things around for the Blue Shirts.

Besides, what is there to lose for the Rangers. Sure, they’re still in second place in the Metropolitan Division for the moment, a point ahead of the cross-town rival Islanders. But with a 3-6-1 mark over their last 10 and their aforementioned struggles, how much longer will that last?

Things are bad now and there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight. So give Raanta the nod and see if he can’t help right the ship. At the very worst, he will falter and things will continue moving in the wrong direction. At least they can turn back to Lundqvist again.

There needs to be something, anything to change the negative momentum the Rangers have on their side right now. Perhaps this could be a nice little jolt to get them going again.