New York Rangers: Alain Vigneault and company have a tough time adapting

Alain Vigneault and the New York Rangers have a tough time adapting when pressured by other teams.

If the season ended today, the New York Rangers would be in the playoffs, set to face the Washington Capitals. Henrik Lundqvist hasn’t given up more than three goals since December 8th, showing the world he is still “The King”. He has been there to almost single-handedly keep his team right in the thick of the playoffs. But is that good enough?

Rangers fans are anxious to see the team take that next step. Lundqvist has done everything in this league except win a cup, and his time is drawing near. He has been great but he can’t play forever. They got to one final before being beaten by the more-talented Los Angeles Kings. The King was his crown and the Rangers faithful want nothing more than to see him get it.

People have started to wonder if it is time for head coach Alain Vigneault to go? When the team started slow the criticism came fast and furious. As the team has improved the criticism has backed off but when they slip you hear it a bit. Following Wednesday’s game against the Blackhawks, coach Vignault stated that the team got what it deserved. Responses on social media included that he should get what he deserves, which is a pink slip.

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Is that true? Should Vigneault be gone? He has had the team consistently in the playoffs.

We will let that part of the discussion go for now, there will be plenty of time for it. For now, we must discuss the current problem for the Blueshirts. The problem they have is adaptability. At times, they have none.

What do we mean? Well, the Rangers are built for speed. That’s the team that the coach wanted, so Jeff Gorton and company have given him a roster that is fast, including a guy with Fast as his last name. Sorry, Jesper, I had to.

But the issue is when a team gets physical with the Rangers and slows them down, they don’t have a consistent counterattack. The opposing offense batters them with shots and even Lundqvist eventually cracks. He can only keep them in it for so long when they aren’t scoring.

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Look at Wednesday night’s game against the Blackhawks. Lundqvist stops 30 to keep them in it but in the end they lose 5-2. Chicago out shot the Rangers 35-25 and at times the gap was wider. The ‘Hawks neutralized the Rangers speed and the Rangers had no answer. You don’t need to be a hockey expert to know that if you don’t shoot the puck you can’t score, therefore can’t win.

Part of that is on the coach. He has the type of roster he likes, and he can’t come up with the answer in these situations. At least not yet. Hopefully he will figure it out because the Rangers won’t play from ahead every night.

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