They Can’t Catch a Break!

Unbelievable! Really, it’s unbelievable. Tonight was supposed to be the night. It was supposed to be the first time since opening night that the Rangers were completely healthy. But just when you think you’re out of the woods, the worst happens. Sean Avery goes under the knife and is set to miss at least the next two weeks.

Now, I don’t think I’m going overboard by saying “the worst.” Well, that’s not true. If Henrik went down, the Rangers would be, for lack of a better term, screwed. But the King aside, I don’t think there’s any doubt that Avery is the worst person to have out of this lineup. At some points, you can’t ignore numbers and the numbers are this. Since “The Grate One” joined this team last season, the Rangers have gone 26-10-7. Last season he sparked a 17-6-6 stretch run and this year the Rangers have been a mess when Avery’s out of the lineup. The difference? Without Avery, the Rangers are 4-5-1. With Avery? 9-4-1. If you don’t think having this guy in the lineup makes a world of difference, you’re just not paying attention.

And as if the injury itself to Avery wasn’t bad enough, the timing couldn’t be worse. The Blueshirts are struggling right now, losing three of their last four. The best way to snap out of it would be a big win tonight against the Isles, in a physical, team-bonding game. Nobody would set that tone better than “The Agitator Extraordinaire” himself. And while we’re on the topic, the fact that this will be the third of four games against the Isles that Avery will miss this season is almost comical. #16 lives for these games and is at his best in them. Anybody think his absence has a little something to do with the 0-3 record against the boys from the Island?

So now the Rangers need to find a way to come together and win in Avery’s absence. They haven’t shown they can do it in the past, here’s to hoping they can figure it out now.