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Mike Sullivan exposes the truth behind how the New York Rangers are slipping away this season
Photo credit: HockeyFeed
The New York Rangers' production is slipping, while they've continued down a similar path we've seen last season. In an ongoing slump, Head Coach Mike Sullivan felt like he had pinpointed their issues.
The Blueshirts are a team that is 8th in the Metropolitan Division, and they seem like a shell of themselves.
Giving up their last four games, the team has seen a fall off in production, while missing key players in the lineup. Without JT Miller and Vinnie Trocheck, the team has had to make due with what talent is available.
Sullivan noted what the team's struggles had been:
Sullivan had this to say about where he's seen slippage from the #NYR:
"When you look at the last handful of games versus the first dozen or so games that we played throughout the course of the year, I think we're two different teams. The reasons for that, I think, there's a lot. When you look at the first dozen or so games, I think we were controlling games. We were outplaying teams. We were defending hard. We were one of the stingier teams defensively in the league. I think we generated a lot of offense. We just didn't score a lot of goals. The last handful of games, I think, we're chasing offense - and as a result, we're not getting as much, and we're giving up a whole lot more. And I don't think that's a recipe for success.»
"When you look at the last handful of games versus the first dozen or so games that we played throughout the course of the year, I think we're two different teams. The reasons for that, I think, there's a lot. When you look at the first dozen or so games, I think we were controlling games. We were outplaying teams. We were defending hard. We were one of the stingier teams defensively in the league. I think we generated a lot of offense. We just didn't score a lot of goals. The last handful of games, I think, we're chasing offense - and as a result, we're not getting as much, and we're giving up a whole lot more. And I don't think that's a recipe for success.»
Instead of offensive output being a driver of wins, the team has to work from behind, chasing offense that doesn't exist.
The New York Rangers Have Failed to Produce
In the last four games, the Rangers have been outscored by six points, 14-8, and have failed to be the kind of team that plays all sixty minutes.
The Rangers' lethargic play showed that night, as they lost 3-2.
In the third period of the last game against the Mammoth, the team gave up one goal to Nick DeSimone instead of stifling the neutral zone and forcing overtime.
A small, simple size of a larger issue.
Against the Avalanche, they were unable to match the literal avalanche of scoring in the third, giving up 3 goals at the end.
They're failing to be a 200-foot team, and it shows.
With JT Miller considered day to day by the Rangers, the team will have to figure out a new approach to win games.
Previously on NY Hockey Insider
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