While the New York Rangers own an Eastern Conference-low 10 regulation losses, many are by lopsided margins.
What the Rangers have shown after some unsightly defeats is resiliency. Eight of their 25 victories are immediately after defeats and another bounce-back effort will be needed Thursday when they host top overall pick Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks.
New York’s 51 points were the second-most in the NHL, heading into Wednesday’s play, and the Rangers owned the most wins in the league. But in all 10 of their losses, they have given up at least four goals, and five are by a margin of defeat of four goals or more, including Tuesday’s 6-1 home loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Chris Kreider scored after the Rangers allowed two power-play goals in the first period when they took a penalty 30 seconds into the contest and the other in the final minute. It was the second time this season New York allowed multiple power-play goals en route to its first loss of at least five goals since a 6-0 defeat at Calgary on Nov. 6, 2021.
“A lot of it was probably self-inflicted,” New York captain Jacob Trouba said. “Just turnovers and not enough grind or real compete. It’s what’s going to happen when you play games like that. There’s no easy games, especially a divisional game at home. There’s no reason for us to show up and play that game.”
The Rangers’ only run of consecutive defeats came in four-goal losses at Ottawa (Dec. 5) and Washington (Dec. 9). Four wins after losses have come by at least three goals, including Saturday’s 5-1 rout at Tampa Bay when Artemi Panarin registered a hat trick.
The Blackhawks are near the bottom of the league standings even as Bedard leads all rookies with 15 goals and 33 points.
Chicago’s 11 wins and 24 points are the second-fewest in the NHL only ahead of the San Jose Sharks. The Blackhawks’ 24 regulation losses are also the second-most in the league.
The Blackhawks are 1-4-1 since Dec. 22 and 2-8-1 since beating the Anaheim Ducks (Dec. 7) and St. Louis Blues (Dec. 9) for their only winning streak this season.
Chicago saw its road losing streak extended to 12 games when it followed an 8-1 loss to the Dallas Stars with a 3-0 setback to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday. The Blackhawks gave up multiple power-play goals for the seventh time this season and it was the 11th time they lost by at least three goals.
“I thought the guys battled,” Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said after his team took 21 shots “It was the first step of where we want to go. We don’t like the results. We can’t accept them in this league, but the coaching staff is proud of how we asked them to battle yesterday at practice and bring it to tonight’s game.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t get any luck around their net, but the process of how we want to play is there.”
Bedard did not get a shot on goal for the third time this season and the Blackhawks are 3-7-2 when he does not get a point.
–Field Level Media
