You had to admire the Rangers’ secret strategy – hoping to win – that almost worked last night in Calgary. Almost.
The plan seemed to work like this:
1. Let the Flames take themselves out with 20 shots on Igor Shesterkin in the first period.
2. I think the Calgarians will be exhausted in the third period from shooting so much.
3. Then the New Yorkers will skate over the flag flames and win the damn game.
Peter Laviolette’s skaters followed that plan down to the last detail; except for one thing. The Flames never tired.
As for another reason for the loss – aside from the usual ref-baiting – try this on for size:
“We got overworked,” said Peter Laviolette, who needed just three words to describe the outcome.
The Post’s Mollie Walker added that the coach said it with “pursed lips.” Which tells me that Pistol Pete should try lip balm as an opener at his next media bash.
In the meantime, I’m going to purse my lips and tell you what you already know; that these beloved Blueshirts can’t beat the good hockey teams. Humpties; Certainly. Treats?
Whether they are outscored by Florida, outscored by Winnipeg or pursed by Calgary, the Blueshirts have a quality team problem.
Mind you, it’s not Will Cuylle’s problem; nor that of Alexis Lafrenière. The Young Turks scored the goals in New York, but not Vincent Trocheck.
“Trocheck is in a slump,” says my eagle-eyed-on-the-Rangers-hockey-playing grandson Ariel Fischler. “He’s hurting the team. Moreover, the second line looked out of place and the fourth line should wake up.”
It may seem funny – make that strange – but Cuylle carries the attackers with goals and strikes galore.
“Rangers also need to stop giving up the first goal,” says The Old Scout. “It becomes a bad habit.”
