Pucks on Broadway: Analysis, Discussion, and Musings on the New York Rangers

and all through Manhattan, Rangers fans were stirring, in disbelief what had happened. After a tumultuous loss at the hands of the Caps, I checked in at Pucks to discuss the latest mental lapse...

It has been a while over here, but we all need to do what we get paid for, and unfortunately it is not blogging. Nonetheless, my observations of the Rangers never ceased and last night at MSG was an interesting debacle.

While the Rangers escaped with a point and noticeably tired after the first half of the game, the result has been much of a broken record over the past three seasons. The Rangers defense collapses at the hands of the same culprits (Rozsival, Mara, and Kalinin) and their power play doesn't finish off the opponent.

Where is the common denominator here? What would continue and cause the identical collapse during all Rangers losses? The only answer: Assistant Coach Perry Pearn.

I have made it a point to support this coaching staff because they have made such great strides with the Rangers, but perhaps it is time for a tweak. Currently, Pearn handles the power play and defensive zone while Mike Pelino handles the penalty kill and offense.

Could another bench coach and a changed system work for the better? Perhaps. The Rangers team defense is strong, but when there is a collapse it is the individual defensive unit that collapses.

The defense looks like a group that is confused, makes ill-timed and poor decisions, and has no confidence. They pinch when they shouldn't, miss the net when they need to hit it, and make blind passes that result in turnovers.

How many odd-man rushes did we see last night? Breakaways? Missed nets that resulted in the puck caroming around the boards and into an odd-man situation?

It was the difference in the game.

We can all get on the Rozsivals of the world, and rightfully so, but perhaps the system is just not working and all the players that have failed in it (Kaminsky, Malik, etc.) were just results of a poor system.

Over the rest of the holidays, I would be very surprised if the Rangers don't do something to shake the group up such as a trade or coaching change. It may be the spark they need.

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Errant Pucks: (A new feature with musings, rumblings and tidbits)

All about $undin: Did we ever really believe it wouldn't be about the money. Well, Mats, good luck winning a Stanley Cup in Vancouver. They have an impeccable track record.
Darling Nikki: Zherdev is one of the great talents in the league and when his maturity catches up, will be an outstanding scorer. Now the question becomes, is he best served with Gomez and Naslund or Dubinsky and Co.? Right now, let em' ride.
Wade and See: Redden hasn't been bad. He hasn't been great. He has played a decent defensive role, but not yet latched on offensively. Do I dare repeat: is it the system?