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A Necessary All-Star Break Is On The Horizon For The New York Rangers

With just one more game against the Ottawa Senators, the All-Star break could not have come at a better time for the Rangers. It is not a time to panic. Instead, it should be used as a time of awareness. Head Coach Peter Laviolette must reassess with his staff before his team returns to action. Again, you don’t need to rush over and press the big, red button. New York is just desperate for a little makeover.

Friday’s loss to the Vegas Golden Knights exposed two issues that need a change as soon as possible. With the division lead diminishing every single day, what better time to take a break from the action that is the Metropolitan Division? Resting and spending time with their families should allow the Rangers to look back on what was a below-average month of January. Here are the issues that need to be assessed during the All-Star Break.

Lazy Defence Has Got To Go

There are many scoring threats in the Metro. Carolina has Sebastian Aho who can score when called upon. When healthy, Jack Hughes has New York’s number on every occasion. Who can forget about the ageless wonder also known as Sidney Crosby? Long story short: there is not much wiggle room in this ultra-competitive division. Letting up is the worst thing that could happen for the Rangers.

Hockey is such a beautiful game because it continues to evolve day after day. With that, the game is also getting both younger and faster. With that allows the chance for forwards to shine and capitalize on lethargic defencemen who continue to miss their mark. Without naming any names, the Rangers defensive core has allowed a number of chances as a result of sloppy play. Take last night for example.

In their 5-2 loss to Vegas on Friday, the Blueshirts showed numerous signs of vulnerability. None more so than on Jonathan Marchessault‘s second goal of three. Below is the clip of the goal and make sure to take a close look on how they play develops.

What did you see? You probably saw Marchessault follow a rebound, guide a puck into a near empty net, and celebrate in the faces of Rangers fans. What you might not have noticed was the root of all evil. Watch the clip again focus on K’Andre Miller. The lack of effort in trying one’s best to defend the play is astounding. In a time where your team is in desperate need of a spark, how this happens is beyond me. Crowd him. Try and lift his stick. At least at least attempt to do something productive. Never the less, that moment was the beginning of the end and their chances of a comeback win vanished right before our eyes.

Who Are You And What Have You Done With Igor Shesterkin?

One player that would have benefitted from an All-Star Break was Igor Shesterkin. After Friday’s defeat, Shesterkin’s save percentage now sits below 900 at .899. Two years removed from his legendary Vezina Trophy-winning season, there seems to be something off with the Russian netminder’s game.

The spark just is not there at the moment. The drive is invisible. After conceding a goal, the effort to get one back just disappears. Sure, an inconsistent defensive core can play a vital role in a goaltender’s slump. If this is not fixed right away, then it is way more than an average slump. Do not be surprised if Laviolette calls on Jonathan Quick more often. It could be a blessing in disguise for Shesterkin. Starting the backup more frequently might light a fire under him.

Instead of rest, Shesterkin will head to Toronto as one of two representatives from New York. He and Vincent Trocheck will head to The Six for new weekend’s festivities. A break could have been for the best. Having some fun with “Trochocinco” and a few of his peers might also help with the mental side of his game.

Just One More Tilt Before The All-Star Break

Before heading into the All-Star Break, the Rangers will face off against the pesky Ottawa Senators. The once Blueshirt Vladimir Tarasenko has improved since their first meeting, tallying 32 points in 42 games played with an impressive plus-16 to his name.

Puck drop is scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m. EST from Canadian Tire Centre.

Main Photo: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Jeremy Striano

Jeremy Striano

Jeremy is a lifelong sports fanatic and loves the game of hockey, specifically the New York Rangers. He is a graduate of both The Catholic University of America (Washington, DC) and Syracuse University. Along with hockey, Jeremy enjoys Broadway musicals and trying different beers!

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