Rangers 11-Game Point Streak Comes To Crashing Halt In 6-3 Loss To The Stars

The Rangers, riding an 11-game point streak, crashed to earth slightly in their 6-3 loss to the Stars, their first defeat regulation defeat since October 19 against Nashville. Up 2-0 in the second, the tide turned as Dallas crashed the net with impunity, converting several rebounds and loose pucks around the net into goals. New York was unable to stem the tide, as the host team potted six straight markers, including two empty-net tallies, to earn the victory.

Leading 1-0 after a fairly dominant first period, New York got a fluky goal from Kaapo Kakko – yes, you read that correctly, the words goal and Kakko are in the same sentence – to extend the lead to two. The roof then caved in, as Dallas cut the deficit in half less than a minute later. The Rangers made it out of the second frame up 2-1, but you see that the Stars had all the momentum and were carrying play.

Joe Pavelski tied the score 61 seconds into the third, then the fun began. A pair of goals 78 seconds apart each were challenged for goaltender interference, with both calls, rightfully, going in favor of Dallas. The individual calls themselves were not the only points of consternation for Rangers’ fans, beyond hoping Toronto would overturn the tallies. But the inconsistency of calls and reviews from game to game, heck, from period to period, is what’s maddening and raises the blood pressure of many. Getting the calls right and, as important, making them consistent with the same rationale would be great. That said, many would still feel the officials review team has a “screw the Rangers button” irrespective of what the call was.

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A loss was bound to happen, but three concerning aspects came from the game.

• Mika Zibanejad continues to struggle. A seven-game goalless drought to open the season was followed with goals in back-to-back contests, spurring hope that he had found his way. Unfortunately, Zib has now followed those two games up with another seven-game drought. Plus, it’s not just the lack of scoring but how he looks on the ice, as he appears almost lost.
• Igor Shesterkin’s rebound control – Jack Hughes last game and Mason Marchment this game scored on shots that should have been swallowed up by Igor. I am willing to chalk his two so-so games up to rust, as he went 16 days between game action and not ready to push the panic button.
• K’Andre Miller struggled mightily last night. He vacillates too often from world beater to beaten by the world, shift to shift, period to period and game to game. That inconsistency and inability to continue play at a high level is what can be maddening about his performance.