The New York Rangers expected to rectify their offensive and defensive problems against the last-place Carolina Hurricanes Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
However, the script reversed itself. Carolina scored two goals 25 seconds apart just three minutes into the game and never looked back in a 5–1 victory.
Patrick Dwyer tipped Joni Pitkanen’s backhand over the glove of Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist to give Carolina the opening goal.
It quickly became 2–0 after Carolina captain Eric Staal faked his shot and froze his defender, giving himself separation for a good wrist shot. Lundqvist wasn’t square in the net when the puck hit his left leg and slid in.
“We scored two goals in the first period and took the jump and the life out of the building,” Staal told MSG.
The Rangers had a shot to turn the game around, when early in the second period, the Hurricanes couldn’t clear the puck out of their own zone. Ryan Callahan tipped in Marc Staal’s shot on a beautiful redirection to get the crowd back into the game.
However, typical of how the Rangers have played recently, they let the Hurricanes score again less than a minute later. Sergei Samsonov tipped in a goal to extend the lead to 3–1.
Samsonov and Staal each scored another goal in the third period. Staal’s second goal came off a 5-on-3 power play courtesy of a couple of frustration penalties by Dan Girardi and Callahan.
The frustration was evidenced by the entire team, and none more so than Lundqvist, who allowed five goals. “I know I have to play better. There’s no way we can win if I play like this. It starts with me. I have to be better. It’s as simple as that,” he said.
The Rangers have now been outscored 17–3 in four straight losses. Head coach John Tortorella was so disappointed with the play of defenseman Wade Redden that Tortorella benched him with 17:55 left in the second period.
Still, Tortorella remained positive and optimistic about the outlook of the team. “I thought the team played hard in the second and third periods and stayed together. I’m happy the way they played. We just need to finish.”
Center Vinny Prospal was more adamant and said, “It’s not about anybody else but us. We have to find a way to start scoring goals. It starts with practice. You have to start doing it in practice and take the habit toward the game.”
The Rangers have not been practicing as often lately because of the tight schedule, especially leading up to the Olympics.
Whether it’s the lack of practice time or a combination of reasons, the Blueshirts must now take their losing streak and offensive woes into Phoenix for a Saturday night showdown that will begin a three-game road trip.
The Rangers are right in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff jumble that has eight teams separated by one point. The Rangers are in eighth place with 55 points in 54 games.
However, the script reversed itself. Carolina scored two goals 25 seconds apart just three minutes into the game and never looked back in a 5–1 victory.
Patrick Dwyer tipped Joni Pitkanen’s backhand over the glove of Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist to give Carolina the opening goal.
It quickly became 2–0 after Carolina captain Eric Staal faked his shot and froze his defender, giving himself separation for a good wrist shot. Lundqvist wasn’t square in the net when the puck hit his left leg and slid in.
“We scored two goals in the first period and took the jump and the life out of the building,” Staal told MSG.
The Rangers had a shot to turn the game around, when early in the second period, the Hurricanes couldn’t clear the puck out of their own zone. Ryan Callahan tipped in Marc Staal’s shot on a beautiful redirection to get the crowd back into the game.
However, typical of how the Rangers have played recently, they let the Hurricanes score again less than a minute later. Sergei Samsonov tipped in a goal to extend the lead to 3–1.
Samsonov and Staal each scored another goal in the third period. Staal’s second goal came off a 5-on-3 power play courtesy of a couple of frustration penalties by Dan Girardi and Callahan.
The frustration was evidenced by the entire team, and none more so than Lundqvist, who allowed five goals. “I know I have to play better. There’s no way we can win if I play like this. It starts with me. I have to be better. It’s as simple as that,” he said.
The Rangers have now been outscored 17–3 in four straight losses. Head coach John Tortorella was so disappointed with the play of defenseman Wade Redden that Tortorella benched him with 17:55 left in the second period.
Still, Tortorella remained positive and optimistic about the outlook of the team. “I thought the team played hard in the second and third periods and stayed together. I’m happy the way they played. We just need to finish.”
Center Vinny Prospal was more adamant and said, “It’s not about anybody else but us. We have to find a way to start scoring goals. It starts with practice. You have to start doing it in practice and take the habit toward the game.”
The Rangers have not been practicing as often lately because of the tight schedule, especially leading up to the Olympics.
Whether it’s the lack of practice time or a combination of reasons, the Blueshirts must now take their losing streak and offensive woes into Phoenix for a Saturday night showdown that will begin a three-game road trip.
The Rangers are right in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff jumble that has eight teams separated by one point. The Rangers are in eighth place with 55 points in 54 games.
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