New York Rangers playing like deadline sellers

The New York Rangers are looking like a team ready to sell its parts at the trade deadline.

The New York Rangers seem to be making the front office’s decisions for them. At least in the first two games after the break they are. Remember? We talked a few days ago about how the front office is looking to break this team down regardless of their position. So far after the break, the Rangers look like a team ready to do just that.

Since the All-Star break, the Rangers have been outscored 9-2. Obviously they are 0-2. As of the writing of this post, they sit with 55 points, two points behind the final Wild Card position, currently held by the Flyers. The Islanders and the Panthers also separate the Rangers from the playoffs, with 57 and 56 points respectively.

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The way the Rangers are losing is the most troubling. They simply aren’t getting the puck on the net. This just in, it’s hard to find the back of the net if they aren’t putting any pucks on net. Look at the last two games.

In the first game after the break, the Rangers fell 4-0 to the Maple Leafs. They were outshot 32-25. They played a lot of defense, with 20 blocked shots compared to Toronto’s six, but they couldn’t get shots on net. The Rangers are a speed team and they have to get down the ice and pepper the opponent with shots. They couldn’t get it done here.

On February 2, the Rangers fell 5-2 to Nashville. In that wonderful game, the Rangers managed a whopping 22 shots. It’s impossible to score a lot of goals if you aren’t getting shots. It’s hockey 101. Win the shots on goal battle and you are more likely to win.

Next: Rangers midseason state of the union

They are falling into old habits. The Rangers are playing like Henrik Lundqvist can bail them out in each and ever game. He can’t, and no goalie can. He needs help. The team is going to have to find their scoring again, and fast. Otherwise selling will be a NEED, not just a want from the front office.