WA-NYR-TradeRumours The end, for the Rangers, is nearing. It might even be with us here and now. For all we know, the Blueshirt's playoff chances were torpedoed when defenseman Will Borgen gave the game – maybe the season – away on Sunday afternoon with one of the all-time fatal passes. The loss to Colorado could have been forgotten by last night's opening face-off had the New Yorkers showed some resilience. A rebound win was, in fact, possible. NADA! Not even close; a 4-0 rout delivered by an elite Carolina sextet. "The Borgen blunder is the kind that could kill a team that lacks leadership to pull the guys together," says The Old Scout. "Based on the game with the Canes, Borgen left his new team in a daze." At least for 55 minutes on Sunday, things were working for the Blueshirts. Not against Carolina. The chief protagonists designed to save the team went AWOL. * GOALTENDING: Igor Shesterkin has given up six and four goals in successive games. Last night he relinquished four goals on 26 shots. Sorry, that's not good enough; not when the homestretch looms. * DEFENSE: Where's the veteran titular leader Adam Fox when you need him. How about K'Andre Miller who appeared to be finding fine form but was a non-factor last night. * OFFENSE: Breadman's turnover before the game was a minute up resulted in the Visitor's first goal. A Chris Kreider turnover led to the third and – basically game-over – Canes red light. I'll get to the Mika madness a bit later. * THE MAGIC: Matt Rempe isn't hurting the club but his presence isn't producing "automatic" wins as once seemed to be the case. * THE INFANTRY AND CAVALRY: Like Custer's Last Stand, the Cuylles and Carricks arrived too late to help. Unfailingly, the Rangers give up the first goal of almost every game. This time the Visitors needed a mere 56 seconds to take the lead. "That's a tough one," says bewitched, bothered and bewildered coach Peter Laviolette in the understatement of the half-century. Tough? TOUGH? Hey, Pete; do you want to know what's tough? I'll tell you. Vincent Trocheck & Company managed three shots – THREE SHOTS – in the third period. Now for the Mika Zibanejad malaise: The Maven has been sticking up for this guy, figuring that sooner or later he'll find his former magic. Sorry, Pal, someone else is going to have to do it. "Mika has given up on this franchise," says Blue Collar Blueshirt publisher-columnist Sean McCaffrey. "He outright quit." I'll put it more gently. Once-Magical-Mika now has two months to prove Mac wrong. In fact, I double-dare Z to do so! A day ago I wrote that the biggest obstacles for the Rangers to overcome – if they expect to make the playoffs – are Philly, Blue Jackets and now maybe even the Islanders. My advisor-consultant-scout Jess Rubenstein says I'm sadly mistaken. "The biggest obstacle to the Rangers making the playoffs," Rubenstein concludes, "are the Rangers themselves!"
