What is wrong with the Rangers?

Is it time to hit the panic button on Broadway? Possibly, as the race for the last few playoff spots gets closer and closer with Carolina gaining steam and Atlanta still close. The story of this season in the NHL is the mediocrity among the middle teams in the NHL, as any of them can make the playoffs, but just as easily be on the outside looking in. Few teams have shown they can dominate night in and night out like the old days of San Jose, New Jersey, Washington, and Pittsburgh seemingly automatically in the post-season competition. The Rangers missed the post-season for the first time since the lockout in 2009-10, and are in danger of falling out of the playoffs again with their 0-4-1 record in their past five games. Usually skids like this happen to teams once or twice a season (unless that team is the Islanders or the Oilers), and it could not have come at the most inopportune time.



The Rangers are finally getting healthy again, as Brandon Dubinsky, Vinny Prospal, Ryan Callahan and Erik Christensen have all returned to the lineup. With the first game or two, shaking off the rust would have been an ample excuse. It is obvious that this team has problems that it needs to address if the Rangers want any hopes of being successful in the playoffs, or even making it to the party. The Rangers are 3-for-22 on the powerplay in their last five games (13.6%), and have been shut out on the man advantage in the past two games against the Canadiens and Red Wings (0-for-7). In the Montreal game, the Rangers had four straight second period opportunities to score on the man advantage which would have given them the lead. Instead, Montreal gained momentum from killing off these penalties and scored the go ahead goal late in the second. In the Detroit game, the Rangers were trailing 3-2 and could not capitalize on the powerplays they were on for the last 3:40 of the game.

What exactly is wrong with the powerplay? Well, first of all, they are not getting shots on net. The Rangers one powerplay goal (in five attempts) against the Penguins was on a point shot by Michael Del Zotto that Ryan Callahan was able to deflect. In the Montreal game, the Rangers set up in the offensive zone, only to pass the puck around the perimeter looking for the perfect play. It reminds me of the Jagr era, and I still hear the voices in the back of my head yelling "SHOOT!". The Rangers are simply not getting shots to the net, and it is a major issue. No players in the NHL are afraid of Matt Gilroy's slapshot, nor Vinny Prospal's nor Michael Del Zotto's. I liked coach John Tortorella's idea of using Marc Staal on the point as he arguably has the hardest slapshot on the team, yet the Rangers tried to set up too much and didn't try and get pucks to the net.

There are several ways that the Rangers brass can address this big problem. First is to acquire a player that has a point shot. It has been reported that the Rangers are no longer interested in Sheldon Souray as he looked slow at the AHL level and it was questioned if he could compete at the NHL level, so he is not the answer. If the Rangers are to make a trade for a pending UFA that can aid the powerplay, Bryan McCabe and Eric Brewer are names that come to mind. Each of them is a strong two-way defenseman with a low, hard shot. It would require a moderately significant return to acquire either of these players. The Washington 2nd round pick the team acquired in the Bobby Sanguinetti trade may prove to be an asset at the deadline. The second option is to address this problem over the summer in free agency, as the Rangers will not have to trade any players or prospects to sign free agents. If the Rangers are indeed still rebuilding, they will let this team learn from the hardships they experience, and in turn this experience will aid these players in getting out of future losing streaks.

Another problem with the Rangers is that they are failing to execute when they provide good offensive pressure, and are falling behind early in games. Many times, Brian Boyle, Brandon Prust, Brandon Dubinsky, Derek Stepan and so many other Rangers forwards have had good offensive pressure that should lead to at least an early goal. Unfortunately, the Rangers have not scored in the first period since playing Pittsburgh, and in the last two games only scored two goals that were in the third period against Detroit, too little too late. Marian Gaborik has not looked like himself, though surprisingly he leads the team in powerplay points. He has not been able to use his speed and deadly wrist shot to help the team in most games, and is still searching for that explosiveness that led to a great first season in New York.

Until Gaborik starts playing like the superstar he is and the Rangers start scoring early on in games, they will struggle. The powerplay must be adjusted, whether an acquisition is made or the coaches change the system with the man-advantage entirely. If the Rangers don't fix these problems and the Thrashers or Sabres heat up, the Rangers will be on the golf course early again this year. Coach John Tortorella and GM Glen Sather must right the ship before it is too late and the Rangers end up in mediocrity yet again.