Rangers: Road Dominance Contrasts with Home Performance
The Rangers, despite having the best away record in the NHL, with 11 wins, have shown inconsistent performance on their own turf. After a streak of three consecutive victories, including impressive away wins against Carolina and Boston, the Rangers fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning at home, with a score of 4-1. This defeat worsened the Rangers’ record at Madison Square Garden to 2-8-1. In the eight regulation-time home defeats, the Rangers have only scored a total of three goals.This inconsistency at home contrasts with the dominance the team demonstrated two seasons ago, when they achieved a 30-11-0 record and accumulated 114 points, the best in the league. The home season start was complicated for the Rangers, with a 3-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, followed by scoreless games against Washington and Edmonton, before scoring a goal in the 3-1 loss against Minnesota on October 20th. After losing 6-5 in overtime against San Jose, the Rangers failed to score against Carolina and the Islanders, before getting their first home win in their eighth attempt, with a score of 6-3 over Nashville on November 10. Subsequently, they lost 2-1 against Detroit on November 16 and won 3-2 against St. Louis on Monday. With five scoreless losses in their first seven home games, they matched a record set by the now-defunct 1928-29 Pittsburgh Pirates. The Rangers’ lack of offensive effectiveness reached new levels against the Lightning, being outshot 11-2 in the first period and 16-7 in the second.“We didn’t have our best game,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan commented after the Lightning extended their winning streak to seven games. “I’m stating the obvious.”
Mike Sullivan
Miller, who returned to the Rangers after a trade with Vancouver on January 31 and was named captain before this season, expressed his frustration after the home defeats.“They were more energetic than us today. They were ready for every battle,” declared Rangers captain J.T. Miller.
J.T. Miller
The captain’s assistant, Vincent Trocheck, emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive attitude as the season progresses.“We did it to ourselves. There was no urgency today. It’s unacceptable,” Miller stated.
J.T. Miller
The Rangers will have a day off on Sunday before practicing on Monday and facing the Dallas Stars at home on Tuesday. The following weekend won’t be any easier, with the league-leading Colorado Avalanche visiting on Saturday, followed by Vegas on Sunday. The Rangers will play seven of their next 10 games at home, looking to replicate their road performance on their own ice.“This game is mostly mental. It’s up to you to fight the negativity,” Trocheck commented. “It’s a matter of playing the right way.”
Vincent Trocheck
The boos from the fans at the end of Saturday’s game did not go unnoticed by Mika Zibanejad, the longest-tenured player on the team.“It’s about focusing on one game at a time,” Trocheck said.
Vincent Trocheck
Sullivan also reported that defenseman Adam Fox will be evaluated after taking a hard hit during Saturday’s game. Fox assisted on Miller’s goal and is tied for the team lead in points with 26.“I understand our fans’ reaction,” he said. “We are more frustrated than they are.”
Mika Zibanejad
