By Jim Cerny, newyorkrangers.com
Prior to Thursday’s contest with the Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum, Rangers head coach John Tortorella warned that the home team would love nothing better than to beat their local rivals and “jam up” the Rangers’ march to the playoffs.
Tortorella’s analysis was spot-on, although his warning was not heeded, as the Islanders handed the Rangers a bitter 6-2 defeat on Thursday night. It was the second tough loss in as many nights for the Rangers, who were shut out by the Sabres 1-0 on Wednesday night.
The Rangers remain tied with Buffalo for seventh place in the Eastern Conference with 87 points, three points up on ninth-place Carolina, although the Blueshirts have played one more game than both the Sabres and the Hurricanes.
“This was obviously a big game for them, and they played us tough, so I give them credit,” said Brian Boyle. “But it was a huge game for us and we got blown out. I’m embarrassed.”
After escaping the first period with a 1-0 lead despite being outshot, and largely outplayed, by the Islanders, the Rangers came undone in the second period, surrendering four unanswered goals to fall into a 4-1 hole after 40 minutes of play.
At the root of their problems on Thursday night was a string of six straight unsuccessful power plays bridging the first two periods. Instead of building upon the one-goal lead that Vinny Prospal ...
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STAT OF THE GAME
Vinny Prospal's goal gave him 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in the last 17 games. Prospal ranks second on the team in scoring with 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 25 games since returning from injury on Feb. 3. |
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| (selected by newyorkrangers.com) |
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| 1. V. Prospal |
2. Brian Boyle |
3. D. Stepan |
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