J.T. Miller's spectacular performance on Saturday afternoon wasn't enough to carry the Rangers to a victory over the Bruins.
Now J.T. Miller knows firsthand why the Rangers need help. Did I say help? I meant HELP!
The newest-old Ranger was typically valiant, scoring twice in the 6-3 loss yesterday in Boston, delivering his special brand of vim, vigor and vitality
But it wasn't enough because his new comrades went AWOL on him. Really, what the heck kind of welcome was that!
A lousy one; that's what; especially when you consider the names who failed.
Igor Shesterkin=0. Adam Fox=0. Mika Zibanejad: The usual, =minus 0. Ryan Lindgren: Forget about it!
"Miller can carry a team," says The Old Scout, "but not when the so-called 'Reliables' let him down."
Does this Rangers team have a defense? Clutch goaltending? Certainly, no sightings in Beantown.
Shesterkin allowed five goals on 23 shots. UGH! (Face it, he's slipped during the last three losses. Or to put it another way, Igor got it bad and that ain't good!)
Redemption will be available tonight at MSG (6 P.M.) with Vegas providing the opposition and Jonathan Quick likely to start with yet another attempt to reach the 400-win mark.
"A rested Quick could be the one to stop the bleeding," adds The Old Scout, "but the defense has to tighten up in front of him."
Ah, the defense. Or, to put it more candidly; what defense?
Fox's game has significantly deteriorated. Lindgren is somewhat to the left of awful and the remainder offer no solace.
When the only other Ranger goal comes off the stick of Jonny Brodzinski, you know something is wrong in the State of MSG.
That said, Miller needs time to acclimatize himself to his new team which, sadly, is taking on a "Fat Cat" image with each loss.
To hear Peter Laviolette's post-game dirge, you'd think he was talking about a six-year-old peewee team and not big-leaguers.
"There are things we need to do better," says Lavvy. "And there are so many things that are preventable with what we're doing."
That's what I'd expect to hear during training camp and exhibitions but, man, we're past the half-way point in the season and this guy is talking fundamentals.
When you realize that the club had three days off, returned and then played a lazy man's game, you'd have to wonder whether making the playoffs is a worthwhile endeavor for the Blueshirts.
Let's see how Dr. J.T. Miller handles the patient tonight. Let's see if Vinnie Trocheck is right – or dreaming – when he says "Our transformation is only going up."
Right now the only thing that's going up is the fans' slow boil which will continue rising if there's another effortless night of blundering against Vegas!