Rangers vs. Canadiens: Leaving Points on the Table
The New York Rangers blew four one-goal leads to lose to Montreal in overtime. That's a missed point the Rangers can't afford to lose out on if they still have playoff aspirations.
- There were a lot of good things in this game. For starters the compete level was there from the start. The Habs – regardless of their place in the standings – continue to play a dirty, after-the-whistle game and the Rangers actually responded really well. There were plenty of places the Rangers of November/December would have quit and this team didn't. So, yeah, silver linings and all, I guess.
- The bad things continue to be the bad things. The Rangers can't defend for the life of them, still require all-world goaltending to pull out most wins, and most importantly, continue to simply watch their offensive work die on the vine in third periods. Sure, six third period shots is better than the two or three the Rangers seem to average, but it still wasn't enough.
- What a wasted night for Jonathan Quick, who literally played through a leg injury, took a puck to the throat, and made seven or eight all-world saves in the final 40 minutes to keep the game together. He continues to watch this team disintegrate in front of him as he tried to get his 400th career win and deserved so much better than what this team did for him last night.
- Over the past 48 hours it appears the Rangers and Canucks were damn close on a J.T. Miller trade. More on all that after the jump.
