There are countless reasons why the Rangers are on the brink of elimination and they are all self-inflicted.
There's trouble in River City. BIG trouble.
The invasion of skating Cats over-ran Madison Square Garden last night and we may – mind you, may – never see another playoff game in June 2024.
New York's 3-2 loss – can we call it a case of Cat-nip? – has left a freight-load of disturbing ramifications, with the Rangers just one loss away from playoff elimination.
How come? That's easy; they've struck out in every important department.
1. They had the lead last night and blew it.
2. In goal, Igor Shesterkin couldn't be the difference-maker. Sergei Bobrovsky was.
3. Artemi Pinarin could star in the remake of "The Ghost Goes West." (Stale Bread). He sure isn't starring for the Rangers (A remake of last year's playoff flop.)
4. Florida's best defenseman, Gustov Forsling, was better than New York's best, Adam Fox.
5. The Cats third-string scoring center Anton Lundell was better overall than all Rangers centers.
And that's just for starters.
"We needed to capitalize on our chances," says Peter Laviolette. "We did generate chances but we just weren't able to do it. The game was tight and our 'looks' just didn't go in. What it came down to was one goal."
In addition to scoring a shorthanded goal, Chris Kreider emerged from his offensive slump and was the Blueshirts most effective forward with Mika Zibanejad right behind with a pair of assists.
"Kreider was very noticeable," adds Laviolette. "He and Mika came out with the right intentions."
But this was the game the Rangers were supposed to win because they were due for a W at home and every game has been close. The super rah-rah crowd was there to give them an added boost but it just didn't work; by one goal again.
"There's not much to say," adds a frustrated Jacob Trouba. "Our backs are to the wall. We've got to bring our best game in Florida to survive another day."
Most to the point, this latest loss demonstrated that if Shesterkin can't steal every game AND the Rangers once-vaunted power play can't save them = kaput!
Many in the media have predicted that this series will go seven games and, yeah, it still might.
"All we have to do," concludes Kreider, "is win our game there and give ourselves a chance to win it at home in Game Seven."
Sounds good.
If nothing else, Game 6 at Amerant Bank Arena will tell us if this "Team Resilient" has any resilience left.
If not, there'll be more than "Trouble In River City," it'll be all over and without a victory parade up Broadway's Canyon of Champions!