Rangers get some Sens knocked into them

Another embarrassing effort through and through as the Rangers get some Sens knocked into them (see what I did there?). “Meaningful” hockey games may be a month away, but the points the New York Rangers are leaving on the table at this stage of the season are going to start becoming costly. It’s hard to nitpick individual complaints. The team just did not look good in long stretches against an Ottawa team that, no matter what their analytics, say are 29th the NHL. Blowing leads to these types of teams, like the Rangers have been doing for most of the year, delegitimizes any belief of greatness this season.

It is early December, so this might be a bit of an overreaction to some painful hockey the last couple months, but I truly wonder what it’s going to take for this team to get back on track. Might we be seeing some trades soon? The Rangers are 4-5-4 on home ice this season. It’s not nearly good enough. If you’re going to stink, stink on the road.

One of the very few positives that occurred in the game was the play of Vitali Kravtsov, who finally got his first goal of the season. It’s no secret if you’ve been following along here that Kravtsov needs to be in the lineup. There is no excuse to be keeping him out when the team has looked as mediocre and as starved for offense as it has. This goal should boost his confidence and hopefully Gerard Gallant’s confidence in him.

The key for this Rangers team is the depth scoring options from the kids, Kravtsov includeds. While it’s looking kind of shaky from the likes of Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafrenière, you have to continue feeding these kids any responsibility you can. Their progression, and uptick in experience is vital for this rebuild to work. So perhaps Kravtsov’s goal and strong play rubs off on Lafreniere and Kakko.

Rangers 1, Sens 0

This is a bit of a bang-bang play for Vitali Kravtsov, who took the pass from Artemiy Panarin pass over the blue line and had his initial shot blocked by Travis Hamonic. He collected his own loose puck with Cam Talbot overcompensating in his slide to recover, and put the puck far side.

Rangers 1, Sens 1

Just after the Rangers won a challenge to take an Ottawa goal off the board, they allow a powerplay goal. There was no breakdown here, just a numbers game in front of the net.

Rangers 2. Sens 1

Another goal where teh Rangers manage to take out a defenseman in the process. Artem Zub blocked a shot with his face, and the Rangers kept pushing with two whacks at the loose puck before Mika Zibanejad got the rebound.

Rangers 2, Sens 2

Of course the Rangers blew the lead because, well, that’s what they do this year. The Sens had the net empty, and you do have to give credit to Thomas Chabot for knocking down Jacob Trouba’s clear out of midair and getting the shot off in one motion. Vincent Trocheck also couldn’t get a clear before Trouba’s. Brady Tkachuk tipped it.

Sens 3, Rangers 2

The Rangers had their chances in the 3-on-3 overtime, but couldn’t finish. Mika Zibanejad was stopped on a breakaway. Panarin and Fox couldn’t get their shots through. Then Tkachuk ended it on the breakaway.

It’s not Rangers news, but what happened to their killer instinct? None of the players have it, which is alarming since this was not a problem last year with those same players. Another blown lead. Another overtime loss. Another point left on the board.