The Rangers blew a big chance to improve their playoff standing with a loss to the Maple Leafs on Monday. They have a shot at revenge Wednesday night when they face the Leafs at Madison Square Garden, but they will have to do a much better job in their own zone to earn two points.
“We had some breakdowns at key parts of the game,” coach John Tortorella said after a brief practice, which followed a video session, no doubt addressing the sloppy play in Monday’s 4-3 loss, when the Rangers allowed Toronto to score on the shift after they had tied the game, and left Henrik Lundqvist out to dry on two goals. The Islanders, who defeated the Flyers 4-1 Tuesday night, moved past the Rangers into seventh place in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
“We had a major breakdown defensively. At this time of year, it can’t happen and it is something that we have to fix.Up until the last two games, I think we had been really good defensively.”
Games such as Monday are the ones that make the Rangers miss defenseman Marc Staal that much more. Staal, out since March 5 after taking a puck to his face, was on the ice yesterday for the second day in a row.
Stall said he would love to join his teammates and help their playoff push with nine games remaining but it still a ways away from returning.
“Obviously you want to be back as soon as you can,” he said. “For me, it’s just about trying to get in the best shape possible. There’s no timeline or day to get back. Just going to work as hard as I can and keep talking to the doctors and go from there.”
So minus Staal for the 19th straight game, the remaining defensemen will need a much better performance, or the Rangers could end up out of the playoff picture by night’s end. Ryan McDonagh, on the ice for one of the Maple Leafs goals on Monday, said the Rangers need to simplify their defensive game and perhaps play more like stay-at-home defensemen.
“They are a real effective team on the rush. They have a lot of skill,” McDonagh said. “Running away from our net at times, allowing [Toronto] to get one or two whacks on Hank. It may feel like you’re not doing something or not being effective when you’re not going to chase someone in the corner, but in reality it allows you to stay between him and the net and maybe block a few more shots.”
After facing Toronto tonight, the Rangers don’t play again until Saturday against the Islanders. The schedule then concludes with seven straight games against teams out of the current playoff picture, but several whom are trying to get in.
* J.T. Miller, who hasn’t played since April 3 because of a left wrist injury, was assigned to Connecticut of the AHL.
McDonagh said he knows it will be important to pick up as many points as possible, starting with the Leafs.
“I wouldn’t say they are easier [games] by any means,” he said. “It seems like the last stretch of eight to 10 games are against teams at the bottom really chasing. Florida, Buffalo, those teams are winning games. Carolina is right in the thick of things and they always play hard. It doesn’t matter for us. We are just trying to get two points.”