New York Rangers' Long Rest Doesn't Help!

Three Days off for the Rangers and they came out like they played thee games right before this one in the same day. Florida went right to work as they played three in four nights winning a big game in OT the night before in the Detroit. It was Florida's first win in Detroit since 1996.

Lundquist had to make two huge saves early only 1:30 into play to keep the game score less. The Rangers would settle in but the King would soon have to come up big yet again and get a little help from a post. Vinny Prospal would wait at the Panther blue line for an off sides clear walk in and rip a sharp wrister towards Vokoun which he got a piece of but it would trickle through for a 1-0 Rangers lead. That goal added up to be 22 points in 22 games for Prospal. Him and Gaborik are the only two Rangers who've been consistent. Rangers would take a 1-0 lead into the locker room but the Panthers were the ones who looked like the better team. They controlled most of the play with puck possession and out shot the Rangers 12-7.

Enter period two and the Panthers kept up the pressure and at one point out shot the Rangers 14-7 and soon after their efforts would pay off. Steven Reinprecht would put home a back hand beauty in front of the Rangers goal and even the score at one. Then things would just get worse as Jordan Leopold would flip a harm less keep in play from the point as another forward took a swipe at it but missed it made it's way to the back of the net for a 2-1 Panthers lead and period two would come to a close with the Panthers up by a goal.

Period three just 2:35 in the Rangers would turn the puck over in the Florida zone that lead to a 2 on 1 the other way and a Nathan Horton shot made it's way passed Lundquist for a 3-1 lead.

I got to say for me at this point the frustration was setting in and I'm wondering why we can't ever catch a break as of late like the Panther fluke goal in the period before. Any way never say die and faith full the Rangers kept at it and new reliable Gaborik would make it a one goal game again. Sean Avery who played solid in back to back games came close to tie the game but no cigar and soon after the Rangers would find themselves on the losing side again and now are only a 6-5 team at home. Panthers get the two points for the winner and are now 5-0-1 in their last six and position themselves to be right in the mix of the playoff hunt.

Rangers have now lost 4 of their last 5 and are 4-9-1 in their last 13. This Rangers team needs to find a way how to get points out of these games or they will not be competing for a playoff spot. Excuses? Maybe some, did we run into a hot team? Yes. But did we lose back to back games on our own ice? Yes again. Tortorella put it best in his post game interview as he said "This Sucks!" but we got to keep on fighting through this and hopefully we'll work our way out of it. Come to work every day and stay positive.

Hopefully things will turn around soon for the Rangers. Their next game is Monday night at the Garden against R. Nash and the Columbus Blue Jackets.