17-6-6. That is the run the Rangers went on after acquiring Sean Avery last year to force themselves into the playoffs. That means the Rangers picked up 40 points in 29 games. Remember that number, 40 points in 29 games, or 1.379 points per game to get in.
Right now the Rangers have 38 games left to go in this season, to hit the magic number of 94 points (general consensus as the bare minimum to have a shot at making the playoffs) they would have to get 49 points in 38 games. Think about that. That is just slightly less than the pace they had to finish last year with. I’ve been getting a lot of “stop panicking” comments from people at the boards, but you guys tell me, is it time to panic yet? We are coming close to needing another Herculean effort to make the playoffs again. Do you guys seriously expect that to happen?
As sad as it sounds, id seriously consider being a seller at the trade deadline. Trade Jagr, Shanny, Straka, Rozsival, Mara, Malik, Strudwick, and anyone else who wont be on this team for the long haul. This is an ideal sellers market, with a ton of teams who are potentially in it, a ridiculously strong draft, and very few other sellers, we could get a fortune of talent for those players. I’m not saying sell now, im saying if things dont turn around in a hurry, we should seriously start sending feelers out for some of these players.
Getting back to the horrendous game that we just witnessed, what really is there to say? The Rangers received no goaltending whatsoever, and only scored 2 goals by a player who really should be playing for the Wolfpack. The Rangers passed at least twice when they had nearly wide open nets to shoot at, and their power play looked very similar to something you flush down the toilet after eating too much PF Changs. There was nobody who is above blame in this one, from the coaching (I would have pulled Henrik after the 3rd goal), to the defense (how many breakaways and odd man rushes did they have?) to an offense that look like they are holding their sticks with their feet. While considering all these things, I stumbled across a message over on the ECSF boards. Keep in mind there is no curse moderating there, so the language is colorful, actually I think I am the one who makes it colorful. If you want to see the unedited version click here. But here is a nice edited version for you. Albynomonk says:
If the Rangers had scored 3 goals in each game this season, and assuming that we lost each game that went to OT, we would be sitting at 21-11-12. 53 points would put us in the Atlantic Division lead, 2nd seed in the Conference.
3 goals per game. That wouldn’t even put us as one of the top 5 offenses in the league. It would put us in the top 10, but with this lineup we should be able to be there.
Lundqvist was solid for the first 11 weeks of the season. Since December 12th, he’s been shaky. Less than a month. He’ll recover, I have no doubt about that.
To which I responded:
Fair assessment, again though, its different areas that seem to be breaking down at different times. its why we seem like such a mediocre team. when the defense and goaltending is there, the offense isnt, when the offense and goaltending is there, the defense isnt, when the offense and defense is there, the goaltending isnt.
They never seem to get all 3 facets of the game, clicking at the same time for a full game, leave alone a string of games.
It is very disheartening to watch.
I think that pretty much sums up the problem with this team, nothing much else to say I’m afraid.
