Rangers Recap: No belief in New York

Another game against a playoff bound Eastern Conference opponent, and yet another loss when desperate for points. With such critical games and poor showings, it might be time to call it a season. With the loss, Montreal has a two point lead with two games in hand, and now the Islanders are tied in points with two games in hand. Nothing this team has done suggests that, at a time when everything needs to go right, they will figure it out.

The team’s veterans outside of Artemi Panarin are not only snake bitten, but simply look defeated. No one seems engaged and they totally and completely lack any semblance of confidence right now. Perhaps that run through January was the blip, and the hockey we are seeing now, similar to the hockey we saw in December, is what the Rangers truly are this season. It’s lifeless. It’s hard to comprehend and transcribe into words exactly what we are watching.

K’Andre Miller is such a polarizing hockey player. The raw tools are so evident, and the athleticism is ridiculous. However his inconsistent play in such a large role is maddening. Usually he’s fine except for that one play per game that makes us bang our heads against a wall. But last night he was on the ice for 3 of the 4 goals against, made costly reads that resulted in odd man rushes, and lost his puck battles in the high danger areas while defending.

Considering he’s a restricted free agent with arbitration rights, Chris Drury might look to move out the inconsistent play, taking a huge risk that he eventually figures it out. Despite drawing the ire of fans for his play on the ice, Miller has significant value across the league. There’s a big question about the system as well.

It sounds like there were some “Fire Lavi” chants at the end of the game, and quite frankly, I think that really might be the move when the season is over. This season does not fall on Laviolette alone, but he was certainly part of the problem with his lineup decisions, deployment options, and lack of accountability when this core needed the biggest kick in the pants earlier in the year. Peter Laviolette is a successful coach, and is obviously a good coach, but the complete disaster of this season has to come with a price if you’re the one coaching this group. On top of continual roster turnover in the offseason, you seriously have to consider starting the coaching staff over again. Other than the Penalty Kill, the Rangers do not look elite at anything right now.