With the Rangers All World goalie Henrik Lundqvist playing at his highest level possible, the rest of the players on his team did their usual win one and then playing without life the next game. It is smething the Rangers need to figure out how it is possible that at this time of the year, this group of players with a veteran leadership group of Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, Brad Richards, Rick Nash, and Martin St. Louis just to name a few, how this team can not do everything possible to get to the front of the net and battle in the hard areas to get the needed result.

The Rangers lost a chance to go up 2-0 on the Penguins and let them off the hook because of a pathetic powerplay that again didn't do anything but give the Pens the momentum. This game was lost in the first period when the Rangers pathetic powerplay was 0 for 3. Where the hell were the Rangers in the middle of the ice in all 3 zones? Where is Rick Nash and how soft can this guy actually play? The Rangers coach has to take Martin St. Louis off of the line with Derek Stepan and Rick Nash just to give him a chance to get involved in the game.  It is clear that the coach will make a change going into Game #3 within the next 21 hours. This Rangers team it would seem has a huge lack of leadership in the fact that they can not put 2 straight hardworking efforts together. How can that happen has to be answered at MSG Monday night in order for the Rangers to have any chance to compete for the Cup.

The Rangers were back into the same old standing around on the playoff instead of moving around into open areas. On the entry into the Pens zone, the Rangers always had a player standing at the blueline flatfooted that was out of the play and put them down a man going into the zone. The Penguins were able to make this a crazy type game like the Flyers did, and the Rangers do not do well in that type of game as we all saw tonight. As bad as this all sounds, the only goal to get passed Lundqvist was a blocked shot put in by a Ranger defenseman, a powerplay Penguin goal late in the game and an empty net. The Rangers had a few close calls, but never really had a chance at any of them because their wasn't anyone willing to play the price tonight. It seems that the Rangers were o.k. with getting back to MSG with the series tied at 1-1 instead of having a killer instinct and going up 2-0 before even playing a game in front of the Garden Faithful. It is what it is, so the Rangers need to show alot more heart and the Rangers fans at MSG will not except anything less with the Rangers now having home ice advantage in the series.

There has been alot of talk about a possible buyout of Brad Richards in this coming offseason but he has proven this year that last year was just the off year. A new coach showing confidence and putting him in positions to show his abilities has payed off for the Rangers this season and so far in the playoffs. The Bigname player that should be playing for his life as a Ranger is Rick Nash. What the heck are the Rangers paying over 10% of their cap for as he is showing he is NOT a playoff type player. I mentioned he has been on the side of the milk carton for missing players but he may even be passed that. Why look for a player that doesn't want to do the simple things that nedd to be done. It would seem that Derek Dorsett will be benched after that stupid penalty with around 5 minutes left and the Rangers down 1-0. Hopefully J.T. Miller is added as a wing for Brad Richards with Dan Crcillo moving down to the 4th line. Miller is willing to do the little things that wins games and the Rangers clearly need his energy. I again am hoping that Rafeal Diaz needs to be added into the defense as his powerplay ability can only help the pathetic powerplay in this years playoffs and take out John Moore who has been nothing special and keeps getting caught trying to decide whether to go forward or to defend.

LET'S GO RANGERS!!! Front of the creases need to be yours!!! Let's Go Ranger fans and make this home ice advantage something special!!!