So here are the Rangers, stumbling without so much as a single go-to guy in the lineup and, really, is that a surprise to anyone in the aftermath of Glen Sather’s Summer of Folly?
Yet, they’re still seven points up on the Penguins, who come into the Garden tonight having lost four straight and six of the last eight in regulation despite being blessed with the NHL’s second- and third-best players in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, in no particular order.
In other words, this game that will mark the end of the first half of the season is no measuring stick. It is, rather, an opportunity for the Rangers, 1-3-1 in their last five, to take advantage of one of the league’s most fragile outfits.
For the yearlong whispers have, over the last three weeks, turned into shouts, confirmed by those who have every reason to know: Crosby, third in the scoring race behind Malkin and Alexander Ovechkin – but who set an all-time record for All-Star votes cast by the fans, in case anyone hasn’t heard or visited NHL.com – is unhappy with management and hasn’t been shy about expressing his opinion within the confines of the organization.
No. 87 is unhappy with his linemates, who, for the most part have consisted of either Pascal Dupuis or Maxime Talbot on one side and either Ruslan Fedotenko or Miro Satan (two Islander castaways, no less) on the other.
He is unhappy that the Penguins allowed Ryan Malone and Marian Hossa to walk as free agents, with the accent on Hossa’s defection, though it was Hossa who rejected GM Ray Shero’s reasonable contract offers because he didn’t believe Pittsburgh with him would be as good as Detroit without him.
Crosby has 50 points (15-35) in 39 games, but only one point (an assist) while going minus-three in the last three games. He has three points (1-2) in the last six, six points in the last 10 (2-4) and 16 points, but only two goals in the last 16.
Moreover, The Chosen One’s frustration has begun to manifest itself on the ice, as evidenced by his bizarre assault on Atlanta’s Boris Valabik on Dec. 18, and his equally odd and unprovoked attack on Saturday against Brett McLean, when he jumped the Panthers’ center off a faceoff and received 19 minutes in penalties.
The center is off-center.
Beyond Crosby’s particular frustrations, there is festering discontent within the room with Michel Therrien, but then, that was the case for much of last season.
So here come the Penguins, 19-16-4, in ninth place in the East, just two points up on the 10th-place Panthers and four points ahead of the 11th-place Maple Leafs.
This isn’t a measuring stick for the 23-14-3 Rangers. This is an opportunity. But how come it seems as if the Blueshirts would kill for the Penguins’ problems?