The Rangers played one of their worst defensive games in years last night, and still found a way to make it exciting. The defense hung Henrik Lundqvist out to dry for five goals, and Hank helped them out by letting in one bad goal and another questionable goal. The first two periods were some of the worst hockey I’ve ever seen from a playoff team. The story by most will be about the comeback, but the Rangers were just putrid. Awful. Terrible.

But then the third period happened, and the Rangers scored three goals early to make the game exciting. Magnus Hellberg made a few good saves to preserve the momentum, but the Rangers still came up short. For those keeping track, this team put up four on Carey Price and lost, then six on the Stars and lost. If that doesn’t scream “defense stinks,” then I don’t know what does.

As an aside, you idiot fans giving Hank a Bronx cheer should just give me your tickets. I can’t afford $200 a ticket on the secondary market, and I would love to get to a game this year. You people are a disgrace. Even the harshest Girardi critics gave him two seasons before really getting on him.

On to the goals:

Rangers 1, Stars 0

The Stars over committed on a faceoff they lost in the Rangers lost, which sprung the Rangers for a 3-on-2 rush. They didn’t capitalize, but the Stars, who struggle defensively, never recovered. The puck wound up on Chris Kreider’s stick behind the net with Derek Stepan circling behind. Kreider’s pass to Stepan moved Niemi off the far post, and Stepan tucked it in off a stick on the wrap around.

Stars 1, Rangers 1

There are three guys in front here, and only Ryan McDonagh on defense to help out. Not a good look. Dan Girardi should not be looking to block this shot.

Stars 2, Rangers 1

Nick Holden over skated the puck. Brady Skjei snow angeled the length of the ice and didn’t prevent the pass. Then Holden couldn’t stop the pass across to Patrick Sharp, who had a tap-in goal.

Stars 3, Rangers 1

Girardi and McDonagh somehow allow this zone entry and then the pass to Jamie Benn, who got behind them. No back check, and Benn had a breakaway. He beat Hank five-hole.

Stars 4, Rangers 1

Brady Skjei had a terrible game, but so did all six blue liners. He was forced into a turnover behind the net. Then Holden went to his man, forgetting Antoine Roussel existed. Guessing Brandon Pirri forgot he was there too, since they both skated right by him. Skjei couldn’t recover in time, and Roussel took the pass for the easy goal.

Stars 4, Rangers 2

The Rangers had a good cycle here, and eventually worked the puck to Rick Nash up top. Nash took a wrister that Mika Zibanejad was able to deflect, which went off Stephen Johns’ knee and by Niemi.

Stars 4, Rangers 3

The Rangers pressed big on this goal. Adam Clendening made a nice cross-ice pass to set up Kevin Klein for a one-timer. The shot went wide, right to Pavel Buchnevich, who buried the carom.

Stars 5, Rangers 3

Hank got crossed up. He wants this one back.

Stars 6, Rangers 3

Buchnevich with the neutral zone turnover. Neither Holden nor Zibanejad bothered to challenge Adam Cracknell. Roofed it on Hank. Ideally you want Hank to stop this one, given the shooter.

Stars 7, Rangers 3

No support. Hung Hank out to dry.

Stars 7, Rangers 4

Mats Zuccarello out muscled a Stars defender along the boards, then skated up and found Stepan cross-ice. Stepan got it to Kreider back door for the powerplay goal.

Stars 7, Rangers 5

McDonagh got the shot off from the point, while John Klingberg couldn’t get position on Stepan. Stepan got three whacks before burying it.

Stars 7, Rangers 6

Zibanejad fired one to the slot to Girardi that went off Dan Hamhuis’ stick and threw Niemi.

I’m not bothering with the Corsi/Scoring chance charts for this game. I post them to add a little value to the game breakdown, but in a game like this, where it was just a defensive train wreck on both sides, there’s no value. Score effects would skew everything.

The Rangers as a collective whole need to do some soul searching. The front office needs to recognize the issues. The coaching staff needs to recognize the issues. The skaters need to stop hanging their goalie out to dry. Their goalie needs to find his happy place and channel his inner Happy Gilmour or else he’s going to snap.

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