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Rangers seek solutions following defeat against faltering Blackhawks

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Rangers seek solutions following defeat against faltering Blackhawks

NEW YORK — The New York Rangers, who boasted the best record in the NHL last season, find themselves struggling this year. After 27 games, they sit in the middle of the standings, grappling with a disappointing stretch that has seen them lose eight of their last ten matches.

The team’s recent troubles continued following the trade of captain Jacob Trouba to Anaheim. In their latest outing, the Rangers suffered another defeat, this time at home against the struggling Chicago Blackhawks, who currently hold the league’s worst record. The 2-1 loss at Madison Square Garden prompted noticeable frustration from the fans, who expressed their displeasure with boos as New York has faltered at home, winning only 7 out of 15 games this season.

“We’re not feeling great about that – for sure,” remarked Artemi Panarin, the team’s leading scorer, who failed to register any points against his former team. “We’ve got to play better so we don’t hear that anymore.”

The Blackhawks, who had gone over five weeks without a road victory, executed a strong game with impressive offensive plays, solid defense, and very few mistakes. The Rangers attempted 30 shots but could only find the back of the net with a short-handed goal from Will Cuylle, battling against backup goalie Arvid Soderblom, who entered the game with a disappointing 1-6-1 record.

This marks the second consecutive game where the Rangers were outperformed by a backup goaltender, having suffered a high-scoring 7-5 loss to Seattle the previous day, where they squandered a promising 3-1 lead.

Rangers coach Peter Laviolette acknowledged the team’s lack of execution, noting, “Could be fatigue. Could be mental. Could be anything. Regardless, it’s unacceptable. We’ve got to be better than that. You’re not going to win hockey games if you can’t execute.”

After starting the season strong with a 12-4-1 record, the Rangers have now slumped to a 2-8-0 stretch since their win against Vancouver on November 19. With Trouba’s departure and his significant $8 million salary, the team has created cap space but has also lost a key physical presence on the blue line.

Star goaltender Igor Shesterkin, recently awarded an eight-year, $92 million contract extension, currently holds a record of 9-10-1, with six losses in his past seven games.

Laviolette urged his remaining leadership core to step up now that Trouba has left the team, stating, “The only answers are going to come from that room. We’ve got to be better than we were tonight.”

Chris Kreider, the veteran forward and the longest-tenured Ranger, believes the solution lies in fostering the right mental attitude and maintaining a steady effort throughout the game. The Rangers face a challenging matchup against Buffalo on Wednesday before returning home to host the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

“We have to get back to work and show we can play the right way,” Kreider said. “And we have to do that for 60 minutes.”