By Allan Kreda
The New York Rangers are currently leading the NHL with an impressive tally of 11 victories on the road. However, their performance at home tells a different story.
Before Saturday’s matchup against Tampa Bay, the Rangers carried momentum from strong away victories against Carolina and Boston, part of a three-game winning streak. Unfortunately, their home woes continued as the Lightning, riding high themselves, defeated New York 4-1. This setback pushed the Rangers’ home record at Madison Square Garden to a disappointing 2-8-1.
In those eight regulation losses, the Rangers managed to score a mere three goals in total.
“We didn’t have our best,” admitted Rangers coach Mike Sullivan after the game, acknowledging Tampa Bay’s seven-game winning streak. “I’m stating the obvious.”
This lackluster home performance is baffling for a team that was a force to be reckoned with at MSG just two seasons prior, boasting a 30-11-0 record and topping the league with 114 points.
New York started this season with a 3-0 home defeat to Sullivan’s former team, the Pittsburgh Penguins. Then they were shut out by Washington and Edmonton before managing a goal in a 3-1 loss to Minnesota on Oct. 20.
After losing 6-5 in overtime to San Jose, they were held scoreless by Carolina and the Islanders before finally winning a home game on their eighth try, 6-3 over lowly Nashville on Nov. 10. They lost 2-1 to Detroit on Nov. 16, then edged St. Louis 3-2 last Monday.
Five shutout losses in their first seven home games tied a record set by the now-defunct 1928-29 Pittsburgh Pirates.
New York’s offensive futility reached new levels against the Lightning as the Rangers were outshot 11-2 in the first period and 16-7 in the second.
“They were more willful than we were today. They were ready to go into every battle,’’ Rangers captain J.T. Miller said. “At no point in that game were we deserving of winning.”
Miller rejoined the Rangers in a much-touted trade with Vancouver on Jan. 31 and was named captain before this season. Miller replaced former captain Jacob Trouba, who was shipped to Anaheim almost a year ago during a campaign that saw the Rangers miss the playoffs.
Miller scored New York’s lone goal on Saturday, but his frustration after home defeats has been palpable.
“We did it to ourselves,’’ he said. “There was no urgency today. It’s unacceptable.”
Assistant captain Vincent Trocheck said positive focus is the only approach to take as the season progresses.
“This game is majority mental. It’s up to you to fight off the negativity,’’ he said. “It’s just a matter of us playing the right way.”
The Rangers are off Sunday before practicing Monday and then facing the potent Dallas Stars at home on Tuesday. Next weekend won’t get easier with the league-leading Colorado Avalanche visiting Saturday, followed by Vegas on Sunday.
New York plays seven of its next 10 games at home as they seek to match their road prowess on home ice.
“It’s a just about focusing on one game at a time,’’ Trocheck said.
The Rangers heard boos late in Saturday’s loss and that was not lost on Mika Zibanejad, the team’s most tenured player.
“I understand the reaction from our fans,” he said. ”We’re more frustrated than they are.”
Sullivan added that top defenseman Adam Fox would be evaluated after absorbing a hard hit during Saturday’s loss. Fox assisted on Miller’s goal and is tied for the team lead in points with 26.
