Trying to figure what this Rangers team is all about is roughly equivalent to cycling from here to eternity.
A night in Raleigh leaves us with this much evidence.
1. A 3-2 overtime loss is a Pyrrhic victory because the New Yorkers came away with a point against the Division leaders in Carolina.
2. The formula holds: Igor Shesterkin's goaltending avoided a 6-2 loss.
3. New York's offense is so weak that the goal-scoring heroes had to be defenseman Vlad Gavrtikov and Jonny Brodzinski.
4. If that isn't bad enough, the Rangers were outshot almost two-to-one (35-19).
5. Egad, what a cad! The Blueshirts were beaten by Carolina's fourth-string goalie, Brandon Bussi. (This guy didn't miss the bus!)
The three-game road trip still could be a winner if they top Washington – very doable – tomorrow – and then Florida, which has many aces out with injuries.
An Optimist Looks At A Good Blueshirt New Year
Skeptics to the contrary; the season is not yet a dead one for the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers">Rangers</a>.
Coach Mike Sullivan is happy. "We competed hard and when it was five-on-five we had our moments," Sully proclaims.
You would be happy, too, as the highest-paid bench boss in the NHL – with no fear of firing!