SUNRISE, Fla. — It’s exhausting to consider the Rangers have been competing in opposition to the Panthers within the Jap Convention Ultimate simply six months in the past.
There was barely any competitors then — regardless of the facade of a 2-1 Rangers collection lead — and even their most valiant effort in weeks nonetheless resulted in an empty-net abetted 5-3 loss for the Blueshirts on Monday night time at Amerant Financial institution Enviornment.
President and normal supervisor Chris Drury ran it again anyway this previous summer time.
And now the Rangers are right here, sitting in final place within the Metropolitan Division, losers of 4 straight video games and 15 of their previous 19, with the follow-up marketing campaign to a Presidents’ Trophy-winning season getting ready to devastation.
It wasn’t sufficient then, and it nonetheless isn’t sufficient now.
Within the 182 days since they final competed in South Florida, the Rangers have gone from Jap Convention finalists to twenty sixth within the NHL.
Or the laughing inventory of the league.
Underneath the circumstances, they’re one in the identical.
Though the Rangers clawed again with two fast targets from Filip Chytil and Ryan Lindgren within the second interval, they discovered themselves in a multi-goal gap within the first place after giving up two inside 2:17 for the seventh time of their previous 18 video games.
To not point out the truth that it was additionally the eleventh time they’ve allowed their opponent to attain twice within the span of 4:00.
The Panthers are nonetheless the blueprint for a tough group to play in opposition to. Regardless of getting outshot 13-9 within the center body, it took Florida all of 38 seconds to answer the Rangers’ push and regain the lead.
A robust keep-in on the blue line from the Panthers led to some chaos across the Rangers internet, earlier than Jesper Boqvist cleaned up a unfastened puck and buried it right into a wide-open internet for the 3-2 lead.
The Rangers energy play snapped an 0-for-22 skid over the previous eight video games on a aim from Chris Kreider in an effort to even the rating at 3-3 simply over 5 minutes into the ultimate body.
Boqvist notched his second of the sport, although, on a gritty sequence across the internet later within the interval to safe the victory.
Failing to capitalize on a present of an influence play with 2:50 left in regulation, when Matthew Tkachuk took a seat within the field for delay of recreation, the Rangers have been completed after Aleksander Barkov scored an empty-net aim.
The Panthers averted a third-straight loss in consequence, which additionally helped the house group leapfrog the Maple Leafs to take sole possession of first place within the Atlantic Division.
There’s no query the Rangers’ efforts have been higher.
Monday night time was most likely considered one of their finest within the final month and a half.
The gauntlet of a schedule they’ve run into has been unforgiving.
Plus, the group’s repeated lack of ability to measure as much as the top-tier golf equipment they’ve confronted is simply additional affirmation that the best way they’re at present constructed is just not going to chop it.
The Rangers stay straightforward to knock off the puck.
There’s zero resistance within the impartial zone.
First intervals have been like “Groundhog Day” for the Rangers currently: Identical story, totally different day.
A number of Rangers whiffed making an attempt to clear the puck earlier than Mika Zibanejad’s try went proper to the stick of Gustav Forsling, whose shot was tipped by Eetu Luostarinen for the 1-0 lead simply over three minutes into the sport.
Zibanejad’s minus-22 score on the season is the third worst within the NHL.
A mere 2:15 later, the Rangers have been hemmed of their zone earlier than Dmitry Kulikov’s shot discovered twine by site visitors.
Head coach Peter Laviolette challenged for goaltender interference, however the aim in the end stood.
