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Fred Chartrand/The Canadian Press via AP

The Rangers came into yesterday’s game looking to rebound from a loss in Brooklyn, one that was ugly for three minutes before taking 50 shots. They instead repeated those three minutes in Brooklyn for most of the game, surrendering four goals on four pretty bad mistakes in the first two periods. By then, it was too little too late in the third, and the Rangers were unable to come back.

The Rangers were able to get two weak ones past Craig Anderson, who was not good in this game. But there’s only so much a team can do when they allow slot passes and open looks in front. The line of Fast-Desharnais-Vesey was especially guilty in this game, on the ice for three of those bad defensive plays. I guess there’s only so much one can do when four defensemen playing were in the AHL for most of the season.

That said, John Gilmour and Ryan Sproul had a good game. Neal Pionk and Brady Skjei were on the ice for two of those goals, though. In a game like this, it’s tough to fault any particular player. The game was over long before the third period.

On to the goals:

Sens 1, Rangers 0

Five guys below the dots. No one catches Mark Stone behind them. Just bad. Great pass by Derick Brassard, though.

Sens 2, Rangers 0

Three Rangers follow the puck to Erik Karlsson, no one sees Johnny Oduya on the weak side. Also bad. You can’t give Karlsson that kind of opening to make a pass.

Sens 2, Rangers 1

Good play by Pavel Buchnevich along the boards to force Ben Harpur into the turnover. Also good recognition by Ryan Sproul to see the traffic and simply get the puck on net. Michael Grabner pads the trade value with the rebound goal.

Sens 3, Rangers 1

Five guys on one side of the ice led to Cody Ceci being open at the point for a shot. Matt Duchene got position on David Desharnais in front for the deflection.

Sens 3, Rangers 2

Mika Zibanejad split the defense after mishandling the Mats Zuccarello pass, getting to the puck to chip it on net. Anderson mishandled the shot, and Zibanejad got to the rebound.

Sens 4, Rangers 2

Solid defense here. Maybe put a body on Brassard in front?

Sens 5, Rangers 2

This was a little bit of bad luck, as the centering pass went off Nick Holden’s skate.

Sens 5, Rangers 3

Another Grabner goal. Kevin Hayes saw Grabner open for the slot pass. He spun, and put it right on his tape. What a pass. Grabner’s 25th, mind you.

Sens 6, Rangers 3

I don’t understand goalie interference rules.

Score Adjusted Corsi (even strength)

It’s amazing what defensive mistakes can do. Game was relatively balanced in terms of possession, but bad defensive plays made it seem incredibly lopsided. And let’s be real, it was. Until the system changes, the Rangers will always have these issues. This is a lack of structure.

Scoring Chances (even strength)

At least the Blueshirts made the Sens flat line on scoring chances for a while in the third.

I’m oddly zen with the Rangers right now. Yea, they stink. But there is a fire sale coming. What we see today won’t be what we see in October. Embrace the tank. Be the tank. Love the tank. Fuel the tank.

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