Dejection. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Dejection. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Once again the Rangers played a game to a lesser team (at least on paper) playing their backup goalie(s). Once again the compete level of this team did not match the expectations. Once again bad decisions and failed defensive coverages led to goals and chances. Once again, the Rangers lost. It’s one thing to do the right things and lose, it’s something completely different –and far worse– when you lose while doing everything wrong.

The Blue Jackets chased Henrik Lundqvist (by no fault of his own) before the first period even ended. Hank was victimized by two odd man rushes and a shot that hit one of his defensemen. Meanwhile the Rangers couldn’t get more than two past a backup and a backup to a backup, despite the fact that both were giving away more rebounds than the New York Knicks.

Enough ranting, on to the goals:

CBJ 1, Rangers 0

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Brad Richards whiffed on a backhand in the offensive zone, leading to a turnover. On the resulting 3-on-2, Anton Stralman leaned a little too far left, following the puck on Cam Atkinson’s stick instead of the play developing to his right. Atkinson hit Matt Calvert, who blew by the now out of position Stralman. Calvert roofed it over Henrik Lundqvist’s glove for the first goal of the game. If, on this goal, your first reaction was to say that Hank should have stopped it, then you need to re-watch the goal.

CBJ 2, Rangers 0

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Dylan McIlrath decided to go for a big hit, taking himself completely out of the play, leading to a 3-on-1 rush. Eventually Artem Anisimov was able to convert for the 2-0 lead. These are the risks you take when you put a rookie in the lineup.

CBJ 3, Rangers 0

The Blue Jackets worked the puck around the boards in the offensive zone. Eventually the puck bounced over Carl Hagelin’s stick, who was tied up with his man at the top of the circle, and right to David Savard at the weak side point. Savard had all day to walk in and shoot. His shot was going wide, but it hit off Michael Del Zotto and into the net. This goal chased Hank from the game. Sorry, but all pictures came out blurry on this one, so there is no picture. But since there was no real breakdown, and it was a bad luck goal, there really isn’t a need for one.

Rangers 1, CBJ 3

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Dom Moore worked hard along the boards, eventually springing free with enough time to feed the puck across the ice to Richards for a one-timer. Curtis McElhinney was unable to control the rebound, while Nick Foligno was charged with covering both Moore and Chris Kreider cutting to the net for the rebound. Moore was able to bang it into the empty net.

Rangers 2, CBJ 3

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This was a solid breakout led by Dan Girardi, who fed the puck to Mats Zuccarello for the zone entry. Good breakout led by Girardi. Pass to Zucc for zone entry. The Jackets had decent coverage, but Atkinson had his eye on the puck, and didn’t notice Girardi was sneaking in behind him (nor did he take out the passing lane to the weak side). Zuccarello hit Girardi with a perfect pass, and Girardi was able to beat Mike McKenna (who came in for an injured McElhinney) clean.

CBJ 4, Rangers 2

Empty netter. No breakdown needed.

Sorry about that. Full disclosure: I missed the third period because something for work came up. I DVR’d the game, and saw the timing of the Ryan Johansen goal and assumed it was an empty netter. This is what happens when you assume.

Anyway, after watching the replay, the puck appeared to just take a bad bounce over Ryan McDonagh’s stick, and Johansen was able to get by him for a semi-breakaway. Talbot got most of his wrist shot from the top of the circle, but it trickled through him for a goal.

Fenwick Chart:

Courtesy of ExtraSkater

Courtesy of ExtraSkater

One thing should be noted about this chart: It is for all 5v5 situations, and thus is affected by the score. Once Columbus jumped out to their 3-0 lead they sat back, and the Rangers generated more shot opportunities. At the time of the third goal, Columbus had a pretty wide margin for shot attempts.

Another game, another sloppy loss where the Rangers simply couldn’t score. The Rangers have played three straight games against backup or third string goalies: Phillip Grubauer (Washington), Carter Hutton (Nashville) and Curtis McElhinney/Mike McKenna (Columbus). They scored four goals in those games, and lost all three. There is a serious compete issue with this team.

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