N.Y. Rangers: No Fight, Just Flight

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

New York Rangers: Float Like A Butterfly, Sting Like A Flea ...

Think about how hard the Rangers worked just to beat Buffalo.  They blew three different leads, and needed two third period goals in order to avoid an embarrassing loss against the worst team in the league.

It's no wonder they went on to get outscored 3-7 over the weekend by both the Avalanche and Kings.

Meanwhile, Henrik Lundqvist is in the midst of his finest stretch of the season.  Imagine where the Rangers could be if only they just exerted themselves a little more in support of their world class goalie.  But it's gotten to the point where the increasingly annoyed Lundqvist doesn't even try hiding his bemusement with them anymore.

At some point, all this pacifistic pirouetting being preached by Alain Vigneault is bound to get Henrik hurt - due to an opponent, or Henrik punching a wall in disgust.

Are the Rangers short-handed?  For the moment, yes.

But you can talk Kevin Shattenkirk to me all you want.  And it turns out he's been playing on a bad knee for most of the season.  At least that explains in part why he's been so inconsequential.  But my real issue is that his money should be going into Keith Yandle's pocket.

You know what I mean ...

Just like Anton Stralman should still be with the Rangers.

You know exactly what I mean ...

While I'm at it ... there's not an opposing forward in the NHL remotely concerned about where Brendan Smith and Nick Holden are during any given shift.  It's like they don't even exist.  They're human resource enigmas.  I'll even go so far to say Holden should be playing in the AHL.

Marc Staal, well, he's the last guy I want to criticize.  He dutifully earned our respect a long time ago.  But truth be told, he plays scared, and has for several seasons now.  Some believe he plays fearful of being concussed.  However, I began noticing a marked timidness after injuring his eye.

Suffice it to say, the Rangers are no longer that elite defensive team they used to be.  But putting your goalie in harms way is an entirely different matter.  If they are to contend, they must dig in and secure that huge expanse of ice to Henrik's immediate front, and extending between the dots.

This team has no punch.  I mean that literally.  I know I'm fighting mad about it.  Just doesn't seem as if the Rangers are.