First the alibis after a horrendous 6-1 loss at The Garden last night. 1. Igor Shesterkin, who thinks he should be the highest-paid NHL goalie, was due for a bad game. He was so terrible he got yanked mid-game for Jonathan Quick. But, hey, sugar happens. 2. Coach Peter Laviolette's much-heralded line changes derailed the whole team. But, hey, the coach can't bat a thousand every night. Certainly not this one! 3. The Jacob Trouba-K'Andre Miller defense was out to lunch, dinner and Midnight supper. But, hey, give 'em a break; nobody's perfect; except, of course, Breadman Panarin who's carrying the team and notched his 800th point against the Sabres. It might be easier to say that the Rangers got beaten by, say, a good team like The Champs or the Canes. But last night's Sabres haven't made the playoffs in13 years; and may not this season as well. "This game (6-1 loss) has to be a turning point," said Chris Kreider after the debacle last night at MSG. "Turning Point" is a good point since the New Yorkers are in Detroit tomorrow night and the Red Wings are in the same "Let's Make The Playoffs For A Change" class as the Sabres. The Motor City sextet last reached the postseason in 2015-16. Here's what's wrong with The Garden's Favorite Hockey Team: Stan Fischler talks about Matt Rempe. 1. Right now Panarin is carrying the offense, and leadership role as well. 2. Mika Zibanejad looks like he's on Cloud 9 when he's on the ice. (At least Cloud 9 gives rain once in a while; The Z Man often gives nothing!) 3. The mish-mash lines have to go. Lavvy should stop worrying and go back to his regular units. Sooner or later Mika will come around. Better "later" than never. 4. They say that Ryan Lindgren was rushed back from his injury too soon and has played below his normal par. (Playing this wounder warrior is a coach's mistake.) 5. Victor Mancini should be playing not warming his tooshey in the press box. Just about every Ranger has surrounded shell-shocked Shesterkin with fervent praise salted with reasons why he was a one-night sieve. "We played a sloppy game," said Adam Fox. "We haven't been good defensively," said Chris Kreider, giving his blue liners a gratuitous kick in the pants. Now for the good news; the season is a marathon, not a sprint. 'Nuff said for now but The Maven will have more mustard to smear if they blow the game in Detroit. Hey – at this point in the NHL marathon – it can't hurt!
