Rangers' Reckoning: A Wake-Up Call for the Blueshirts

The New York Rangers have been on a slippery slope for a while now. Over the past two weeks, they've had a mixed bag of results, splitting six games. But it's not just the wins and losses; the Rangers have been struggling in one-sided defeats against tough opponents like Florida, Washington, and most recently, Buffalo. The Sabres handed the Rangers a 6-1 thrashing at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. This game was a wake-up call that the Rangers' star goaltender, Igor Shesterkin, can't save the day every time. He let in five goals on just 12 shots before being pulled. Rangers captain Chris Kreider admitted that the team's process hasn't been great. They've been lacking defensively and haven't been doing the little things that win games. It's ironic that the team got routed even though they weren't under constant pressure in their own end. Buffalo had only 12 scoring chances, four of which were high-danger shots, through the first two periods. The Rangers' problems were self-inflicted: they made glaring mistakes, lost most of their battles, and were unable to create much offense. They only managed five attempts at five-on-five in the first period. Head coach Peter Laviolette was candid about the team's performance. He felt they didn't put in enough effort offensively and didn't control the puck well. The Rangers didn't have legitimate puck possession in the offensive zone until the six-minute mark of the first period. Their defensive breakdowns were significant. Jacob Trouba and K'Andre Miller both struggled individually and as a pair. Ryan Lindgren, who's been playing since returning from jaw surgery, struggled alongside Adam Fox. The Rangers might have rushed Lindgren back into the lineup and the top four defensemen before he was fully ready. This disrupted the team's defensive pairs. Shesterkin's save percentage dropped from . 933 to . 919 after this game, showing that small sample sizes can be deceiving. Over the last six games, the Rangers have been outscored 14-8 at five-on-five, a stark contrast to their 20-7 edge in the first six games. Kreider admitted that the defensive issues are a choice and a lack of commitment and communication. The Rangers have gotten by on talent and Shesterkin's outstanding play, but teams that rely solely on talent don't usually go far. This loss is a wake-up call for the Rangers. They need to make changes and turn things around.