We are twelve games into the 2017-18 NHL season and we’ve had quite a few surprises already! The Vegas Golden Knights are shocking the entire hockey community in their inaugural season by having fourteen points, which is good for second place in the Pacific Division. Perhaps the biggest surprise of all, however, is how poorly the New York Rangers are playing.
The Manhattan-based hockey club is riding a 3-7-2 record, which is 27th in the league; only five teams are worse than them. Everyone assumed the team was going to be the ones to beat in the Metropolitan division, especially with the acquisition of defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, but all seems to be going wrong for the club.
On Saturday night, the team was in Montreal visiting Shea Weber and the Canadiens for an original six matchup. After just one period, they were down 3-0 and outshot 19-2, completely unacceptable! The team found some life and fight the last two periods to ultimately tie the game, but Phillip Danault eventually would net the game winner and Montreal won 5-4. The New York Rangers need help and they need it now.
Forward and alternate captain Rick Nash told reporters after the game, “It’s tough to come back from a three-goal lead on the road.” Ondrej Pavelec, who started in goal instead of Henrik Lundqvist, also said, “The first period cost us the two points.”
Rangers fans on social media have expressed deep desire for the team to fire head coach Alain Vigneault, blaming him for the team’s issues, such as playing Pavel Buchnevich on the fourth line, but rumors are circulating a trade may happen first.
The team returns home for a Halloween matchup on Tuesday against a very hot Vegas Golden Knights team. In a tough Metropolitan division and hockey league in general, the New York Rangers better act fast or it will be too late to save this team.
