Photo credit: Getty Images

Photo credit: Getty Images

Well, now that the Rangers roster looks more like an AHL club, tonight’s game is a sure fire win, no?

This is a quick Musings, and a pretty negative one generally. Buckle down folks. Here’s hoping better news arrives tonight!

Cam Talbot. How he deals with the expectancy and pressure tonight will be very telling to his potential. He doesn’t have the safety blanket of a guy like Lundqvist to lean on. He has to play well. There is no NHL experience in net tonight. That’s perhaps a huge slice of unnecessary pressure on his shoulders.

When was the last time an NHL club started a game with both netminders dressed having zero NHL experience?

Ryan Callahan aside, three of the four other presumptive top forwards for the Rangers – Nash, Stepan, Brassard – are all goal-less as we head toward November.

Seven games in to the season and only seven players have more than one point for the Rangers heading in to tonight. That my friends, is abysmal production.

The Flyers are on deck and its great timing. One few clubs in a worse (current) state than the Rangers. Despite the goaltending situation causing concern, it presents a big opportunity for the Rangers to gain some momentum and confidence. The Flyers are scoring even less per game than the Rangers.

State the obvious: The Rangers need to win tonight. While they have played the least games in the East, they have Detroit in Detroit next and are already decimated by injury and falling behind the eight spot. It’s very early but you don’t want to give the rest of the conference too much of a head start.

If it wasn’t for the Flyers, would the Rangers be the biggest disappointment in the conference so far?

Negativity aside, Brian Boyle has been one of the better Rangers thus far. Played some decent hockey and has been pretty solid defensively. Given he was on shaky ground to start the year he’s a lot safer right now than many of his teammates.

The Rangers generally cannot play worse than they have thus far. The defense cannot get worse. So, the upside: When you have a top four of Marc Staal, Ryan McDonagh, Girardi and (insert name), it will definitely improve. Once this team gets home, you have to factor in some better results.

I’m pretty confident that Alain Vigneault didn’t anticipate a start like this.

Question Time:

  • Were the Rangers right to scratch Zuccarello?
  • At this stage, how many 20 goal scorers do you anticipate this season?
  • Will Mike Del Zotto finish the year as a Ranger?

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