Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesDown and down they go – the Beloved Blueshirts to the National Hockey League's never-never land of utter failure.
The team, allegedly coached by "The Retread's-Retread," Mike Sullivan, underlined the point that now is obvious as Mount Everest – this is one abysmal hockey club.
To their credit – and GM Chris Drury's discredit – the Blueshirts do damage themselves in a variety of ways. One night they consider it a Promethean feat to score a goal.
Yesterday afternoon in Pittsburgh, they teased their fast-eroding fan base by scoring five goals and still managed to lose 6-5. deservedly so according to an assortment of critics ranging from former Blueshirt Sean Avery to ABC broadcaster to ex-Ranger goalie Kevin Weekes.
"In the middle of the game Weekes called out the Rangers lack of battle and compete," reported longtime fan Rich Isaak of Londonderry, New Hampshire. "and he was absolutely right. The Blueshirts only managed to get 20 shots on goal and only two in the second period."
Coach Mike Sullivan has to be seeing his team through rose-colored glasses when he endlessly dishes out such verbal tripe as, "I'm proud of my guys."
Superscout Jess Rubenstein offers this following the loss in Pittsburgh.
"Quick was terrible in this one and I wonder why Sullivan didn't yank him after the third goal."
Or, as Blue Collar Blue Shirt publisher Sean McCaffrey morosely concludes:
"Same Old Rangers!"