Dec 2, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (8) celebrates after a goal against Nashville Predators goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) during the second period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
© Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Losing two games in a row isn’t an uncommon thing during an 82-game hockey season. For the New York Rangers to finally drop their second straight game midway through December is incredibly impressive.
Now, the organization needs to pick itself up and respond to the first test of adversity this year.
After falling in a disappointing 6-2 blowout loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, the Blueshirts responded with a 4-0 shutout loss to the rival Washington Capitals in Peter Laviolette’s return to the Nation’s Capital after being fired following a playoff-less 2022-23 campaign.
The two straight losses are the first time this season that the Rangers have failed to respond to adversity this year. That doesn’t mean it’s panic time this time of year though.
“It was not good from the start to the finish,” Laviolette explained after the loss. “No sense dissecting it here publicly…We’ll need to be a lot better.”
New York’s recent stretch of poor play has come on almost every level of the ice. While they were able to squeak by the San Jose Sharks last week in a 6-5 final, the stretch of play has left some questioning the defensive units as a whole. The Rangers have given up four or more goals in each of their last three contests.
According to some in the locker room, there has been a lack of fight that has been missing in recent weeks after a torrid 18-4-2 start to the year.
“I think it’s something we had early on,” Rangers captain Jacob Trouba said. “I think it’s gotten a little complacent. Maybe let our foot off the gas a little bit. We can’t win that way. We have to get back to that fighting…
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