Atlanta Aftermath

If the Atlanta game shows us anything, it’s that you can’t fall asleep at the wheel.  The Rangers dozed off for most of the second period, but what really bit them last night was giving up two goals within thirty seconds after tying the game at two. 

Now, obviously that wasn’t the whole reason the Rangers fell last night and are now 3-7-1 in their last eleven games.  But, even though they were getting manhandled in the second period, they still could have escaped tied or down only one goal if they hadn’t given away two goals so quickly.

With that being said, the Rangers put up three goals last night, which is usually enough to win with Henrik in net.  But, it was the defense that lost the game last night.  I haven’t seen Michal Rozsival play that poorly in a long time.  He has to be in better position in front of the net.  He was slow on the first goal of the night and, although Hank should not have tried to clear the puck on the fourth goal, Rozi has to get back into position and get in front of Evander Kane.  Add to that the fact that Marc Staal seemed to be lost for most of the game, that’s not a great combination.

The injuries on this team are well documented.  While the Rangers are an offensive minded team, as they lose key offensive players to injury, the defense has to step up its game.  Ryan Callahan took a puck to the leg and hobbled off the ice last night.  Dubi is out for a month, and who knows when Drury will be fully healed.  This team cannot afford to give up two goals a game due to bone headed plays.  Those bone headed plays also include the penalties the Rangers took last night, in one word, inexcusable.  This team needs to screw it’s collective head on and focus for sixty minutes.

In other news, PA Parenteau comes up and replaces Dane Byers.  Can’t say that this will be enough, but hopefully PA can bring some punch in for a few games.