The Rangers lost a lifeless game 4-1 at home on Thursday, October 18th.  Jacob Trouba kept it simple, "I don't think that's a game that any of us are proud of." 

The team is 4 games into the season posting a 2-2-0 record. The wins looked phenomenal. In the losses, they hardly contested their opponent.

Here are the takeaways from game 4 of 82. 

The Long Road: Peter Laviolette stated it would be a long road to develop his system following the Ranger's victory on Monday and after the team's practice on Wednesday. Admitting is the first step and he wasn't wrong. Whether it's the lineup, zone systems, or details, the team has experienced peaks and valleys. 

He stated in the post-game presser, "There are a lot of components and aspects to the game that aren't good enough and missing, and with that, you're not going to find success." 

Having a leader in place who takes accountability for the ups and downs and understands the process is a positive takeaway from the Ranger's drab outing.

Columbus/Nashville Lower Tier Teams: A concern is the level of talent the Rangers have faced. One voice says teams like the Blue Jackets Coyotes, and Predators compete early in the season and falter by 2024. Another voice says, two's a party. A 6-3 loss to the Blue Jackets last week was tolerable. A loss to Nashville leads to mild distress.

I had the chance to talk to  Greg Wyshinski (Senior Writer/ESPN) in the press box about a hot take he has on the 2023-2024 Rangers. He believes the team doesn't naturally have the speed that Carolina and New Jersey have and remains in danger of facing teams that have a more natural tempo. 

Forget the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, speed should not be an issue against rebuilding opponents. 

Jekyll and Hyde: The Rangers won't go very far this year if the organization's cornerstone skaters become invisible all at the same time. 

Every Davante Adams has a Bill Bellicheck plotting against them. That's sports. The following two games that featured contributions up and down the depth chart were followed by equally alarming no-shows from the entire team. It harkens back to May 1st, 2023. The hope is this is not a pattern. 

In-Game Adjustments: Peter Laviolette is as thorough as they come, explaining every single reason for lineup decisions and team systems. His introductory presser in June was the opposite, uncharacteristically repetitive. 

He drilled home the principle of in-game adjustments, the very reason he was hired in place of the willful Gerard Gallant. The two losses this season stem from system failures, such as the defense allowing 8 odd-man rushes against Nashville. We have yet to see the team clean up some of these flaws from one period of play to another. When will a bad period turn into a good period?

Quick's Unceremonious Debut: Johnathan Quick will play a game on the upcoming western road trip. The 37-year-old netminder stopped 9 shots when he replaced Igor Shesterkin in the second period, including a breakaway from Kiefer Sherwood. It was refreshing to witness Quick hold his ground in the crease for 26 minutes of gameplay, as his preseason was forgettable. 

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