Through the first five pre-season games the Rangers looked competitive getting at least a point out of each of their games on the way to a 2-0-1-2 record, but even then there were worrying signs. New York had been outshot in all bar the first game in Montreal (24-23) and were on the wrong side of a 36-22 advantage in power plays.
Still, in their favor they had only given up 13 goals in those five games and were a respectable though not impressive 4 for 22 on the power play. But all that changed as the Rangers have now lost consecutive games against Philadelphia and Columbus where the gave up a combined 6 power play goals while going 0-13 with the man advantage.
Not only that, but it seems that every fight the Rangers got in they lost…and in some cases lost badly. The result, the Ranger fans are starting to lose that warm and fuzzy feeling that came after the off-season brought Trottier, Holik and Kasparaitis to town.
As Ranger fans we’ve become all too accustomed to the undisciplined play as was characterized in the Philadelphia game which saw New York give up 13 power plays and a whopping 113 penalty minutes including a seven minute man advantage given by everyone’s favorite goon, Dale Purinton. Not only that but they gave up what might very well be an NHL record 5 two-man advantages.
Then to rub salt into the wounds they give up four goals (including three on the power play) the next night to a Columbus Side which only began playing together two years ago…
Poor discipline, ineffective special teams and a uneven shot total…all hallmarks of the Rangers over the last two years under Glen Sather and Ron Low have reared their ugly heads once again under the new coaching staff. Sure enough Trottier, who one day earlier had been singing the praises of one Dale Purinton, was to the point when he took the young defenseman to task publicly for his poorly executed attempt at retribution.
Purinton could well end up missing the start of the season with his antics as good the captain who was equally undisciplined in the Boston game when he elbowed Matt Herr after being checked hard, but clean in their game Sunday. So this is what they mean by leading by example?
There’s certainly an argument to be made for pre-season, unfamiliar partners and missing starters…but with only two pre-season games remaining when will the lines get their chance to play together?
If there’s any solace to be taken in the almost annual ritual of self doubt and angst in the Ranger fandom, is that it is only pre-season and the games do not count yet…but this certainly isn’t the positive start we’d all hoped for.
Notes: Rangers GM Glen Sather did a good job putting his protected list together and looks as if he’ll get the most bang for his buck if either Lefebvre or Karpa are taken, however unlikely that may be.
Several former Rangers saw their names on the unprotected list this year including headliners Igor Ulanov, Michal Grosek and Jeff Toms.