New York Rangers defenseman addresses mood in locker room as situation intensifies

After Tuesday night’s game against the Calgary Flames, the New York Rangers need to stay focused on the next one so they can continue to fight for a spot in the playoffs. To do so, the team will have to focus on playing their game, which they failed to do in Tuesday’s 2-1 loss.

The New York Rangers are fourth in the Metropolitan Division with a 33-30-6 record and 72 points in the rankings. That puts them below the Montreal Canadiens, owners of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

If they hope to catch the 73-point Canadiens, the Rangers will need to impose their game on their opposition.

For a team whose core has mostly stayed intact, it’s unforgivable that the Rangers and Peter Laviolette would lose to a rebuilding team.

The lack of offense was apparent.

“It was a disappointing game for us,” Braden Schneider said, via The Hockey News. “Obviously a big two points that we missed out on. I think all we can do is turn the page and flip to tomorrow.

“We came out a little flat and we just weren’t executing the way we wanted to. I think everyone in our room is disappointed, but we can’t sulk on it for too long.”

Will Cuylle and Artemi Panarin were the only Rangers players with a point last night.

Now, instead of dwelling on another loss this season, defenseman Braden Schneider wants to focus on the task at hand.

“It’s intense,” Schenider said of the mood in the locker room. “Everyone has the same goal and everyone wants to win. I think everyone knowing what we need to do, we are ready for it. I think everyone is excited and knows what needs to be done to move forward.”

It seems like the Rangers organization as a whole have figured out how to work the press and talk a good game.

But when it comes down to playing the game of hockey itself, they remain unfocused and lack any passion on the ice …  a death knell for a team that had higher aspirations this season.