1. Henrik Lundqvist is not Henrik Lundqvist. He has been struggling since the season began and he looked like he was out cold on Thursday night. He can't stop anything and he started to look like Marc-Andre Fleury in the playoffs against the Islanders.
2. The first two goals of Thursday's night was a defensive disaster. Ryan McDonagh got beat, which is rare for him. Anton Stralman and Derek Stepan looked weak to backcheck and bail out McDonagh.
3. I hate to go this way, but trading away Marian Gaborik. It came back to bite the Rangers. Rick Nash was out of the lineup on Thursday, but when he was in the lineup, he is not Marian Gaborik. And Derick Brassard has got no production in the four games so far this season. And as far as the other player Derek Dorsett, well, he is what he was, but after his fight with Bryan Allen last night, was not the same. Plus, he got a 10-minute game misconduct.
4. Arron Asham? Seriously? The new rules state that you cannot remove your own helmet. And because of that penalty, the Ducks capitalized. All in all, though, these rules make the game look silly. Then again, it kinda makes the game look safer. I don't care if they're playing it safe or playing it hard, they need to keep the rules that make the game what it is. Until then, Arron Asham needs to learn from these rules.
5. Alain Vigneault's questionable coaching and his decisions, like having no kids on the team, is certainly putting this team at a disadvantage. This is one of the reasons why he got fired from Vancouver. They didn't build up a farm system and they constantly traded away young guns, who could've made an impact for the Canucks. Not with the Rangers, he seems to be going to the exact same method. Not a smart move to hire him if his reputation as a no-kids team is going to take its toll.
6. Every Ranger messed up on the fifth goal. Well, actually it was the six (counting the goaltender) on the ice at the time. Brad Richards was too late on the backcheck that really cost them there.
7. Didn't even call a timeout. Could've used it after that fourth goal. Need I say more?
8. You think the LA Kings regret losing that game against the Rangers at Staples?
9. There's a long season. Who knews what'll happen to the Rangers?
This is trouble. This is a team that's in trouble. They're going to fall too far behind the Penguins and the Capitals in the Metropolitan Division if they can't figure out what they need to do to correct their defense. And honestly, I say pull Henrik Lundqvist. He's not getting the job done and he looks small in net. He's shrinking. He doesn't want the puck and he's having problems reading where the puck is. So all in all, these Rangers have got to figure out their defense and they need to figure out goaltending. I'm surprised the Rangers are this terrible to start the season. I thought they would start out strong but apparently Henrik Lundqvist and the rest of the Rangers are certainly not getting the job done. And plus, if Rick Nash is out long-term, that's a bigger problem for a star with a history of goals. Big, tough test against St. Louis on Saturday. I'm not sure if they can win that game. So many problems for the New York Rangers this early in the season.
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