Rangers’ loss to Sharks the newest instance of expensive begins to video games: ‘Not a recipe for success’

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The New York Rangers may have dud video games over the ultimate months of the season. It’s the inevitable actuality of their scenario. This is a group that lacks the expertise wanted to contend at a excessive degree, has publicly declared it’s retooling for the longer term and is lacking arguably its two most necessary gamers (Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin) to harm.

But for the sake of everybody invested within the Rangers — the followers, the coaches, the gamers themselves — the group should discover a method to begin video games with extra conviction and self-discipline. This is already a gaggle that coach Mike Sullivan stated is “playing under difficult circumstances.” Bad begins, just like the one the Rangers had in Friday’s 3-1 loss to the Sharks, solely exacerbate these circumstances. Playing aggressive video games — even when they finish in losses — nonetheless issues if the Rangers intention to place their younger gamers in the perfect place to develop, and early-game implosions gained’t result in occasional feel-good wins in a misplaced season.

“Seems like that’s becoming a little bit of a theme lately,” Vincent Trocheck stated. “We’ve gotta get away from it.”

Twenty-nine seconds into Friday’s recreation, Mika Zibanejad skated to the penalty field after tripping Tyler Toffoli, who was driving to the online on a Sharks’ rush. San Jose’s electrical younger heart Macklin Celebrini, whom Sullivan twice in comparison with a younger Sidney Crosby this week, made New York pay with a aim 1:09 in.

The Rangers had solely 14 seconds of even-strength time earlier than committing one other penalty: a Matthew Robertson delay of recreation for sending a puck over the glass. New York’s penalty kill managed to comprise Celebrini and the Sharks’ prime unit, however Pavol Regenda scored on a backhand shot when San Jose’s second grouping took the ice.

“They come out flying,” Rangers captain J.T. Miller stated. “They draw two penalties. They capitalize. The building was rocking. We just kind of beat ourselves.”

Added Zibanejad: “There’s no avoiding the fact that the start kills us, really.”

Sullivan, making an attempt to get his group again on observe, used his lone timeout solely 3:08 into the sport.

Celebrini scored once more within the first, this day off a Will Smith feed shortly after a Carson Soucy turnover, and Sam Carrick’s aim later within the interval wasn’t sufficient to tug the Rangers again into the sport. New York’s recreation stabilized after the early Sharks’ onslaught — the Rangers truly led in five-on-five anticipated objectives on the night time, per Natural Stat Trick — however Sullivan’s group dug too deep a gap to ever really feel fully within the recreation.

“You can’t start a game like that and spot a team a couple of goals and then take seven penalties along the way and think you’re going to give yourself the best chance to win,” the coach stated, referencing the 5 further minors New York took after Regenda’s aim. “It’s just not a recipe for success.”

“You don’t win like that,” Zibanejad added.

The penalties had been problematic. The begin, although, was the genesis of New York’s issues Friday.

It’s not a brand new subject for the group. The Rangers have given up 14 objectives within the first 5 minutes of video games this season, per NHL Stats. That’s tied for third-worst within the league. In the primary interval, the Rangers have the third-worst shot differential (-79) and seventh-worst aim differential (-8).

January, throughout which the Rangers have performed largely with out Shesterkin and Fox, has worsened these woes. The Rangers have allowed seven objectives within the opening 5 minutes this month, second solely to Seattle. Against the Kings on Tuesday, the Rangers had a defensive breakdown that led to a Los Angeles aim 18 seconds in. Ottawa struck twice within the opening 5 minutes the week earlier than, and Buffalo took a lead 4:07 after puck drop on Jan. 8. The Rangers misplaced these video games in regulation.

“We’ve just got to be ready to play,” Trocheck stated.

“Trust me, I’ve thought about it,” Sullivan added. “I think the last few games we haven’t had the best starts. I’ve gotta do a better job preparing for it, I guess. I’ve got to find a way to make sure they’re ready from the drop of the puck.”

In the San Jose loss, Miller felt the Sharks had extra urgency early within the recreation, gained extra puck battles and outworked the Rangers.

“When you don’t have a great start, and you get down in a game early, and then you combine the circumstance that we’re in right now, it doesn’t make for an easy environment to play,” Sullivan stated.

In complete, the Rangers are 1-7-1 since a Winter Classic win and have been outscored 45-25. A annoyed Miller stated he’s “not at all happy with where we’re at.”

“This really sucks,” he stated. “Losing every night, it’s hard to stay positive. … Everybody’s really trying hard. That’s what really sucks.”