Skating Backwards

What's that old line about taking one step forward and two steps back. Well the Rangers have added a new dimension. Don't take that one step forward at all. Just keep going back. And back they are. They are now tied for 9th and 10th with Atlanta at 71 points. While the Rangers are technically in 9th because of more wins, Atlanta has a game in hand.

Henrik Lundqvist has carried the Rangers all year and picked them up many a time when the team sagged. The Rangers have rarely picked up Lundqvist and last night was a classic example. To use Lundqvist's own words, "I stunk." He let in four goals on sixteen shots. Sure the defense sucked and the forwards didn't come back and cover but the basic fact was that Lundqvist didn't bring his A game. It was more of a F game.

With a chance to move within a game of the losing Bruins the Rangers couldn't rise to the occasion. What else is new? Can you remember the last time the Rangers rose to the occasion? 1994? 1940? While Gaborik rebounded with a goal and two assists, my memory of him last night was the patty cake he played with Jokinen when the Rangers had a five on three for 1:17 of the third period. The Rangers got one weak shot on goal during that time.

The good news is that there are only eleven games left to tee time for this group of pretenders. Fore!

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ICINGS:

HockeyFights.com:
Brad Winchester vs Brandon Prust -- Who won?

Brandon Prust -- 66.7%
Draw -- 23.5%
Brad Winchester -- 9.8%
From 51 votes with an average rating of 5.5