Rangers intent on halting slide in clash vs. Senators
The New York Rangers were looking for answers on Monday after their latest home loss.
On Wednesday night, the Rangers hope to have found answers to questions about their fourth straight loss (0-3-1) when they host the Ottawa Senators.
The Rangers appeared they were going to rebound from Saturday's 10-2 loss to the host Boston Bruins when Mika Zibanejad and Sam Carrick each scored in the opening five-plus minutes Monday. Instead, New York did little else offensively, lost the lead in the second period and dropped to 5-12-4 at home with a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken.
"It's tough, especially getting that start we got and getting ourselves a two-goal lead," Zibanejad said. "It's not fun to lose. Trying to look for answers, trying to find answers. Maybe it doesn't look it at times -- I understand -- but try to do everything we can to try to get a win."
The Rangers have been outscored 22-8 in their second four-game losing streak of the season, and their 46 points are the fewest in the Eastern Conference. It was the 27th time in the first 47 games that the Rangers were held to two goals or less, and during the third period Monday they heard noticeable boos from fans.
"When you don't have success, nobody feels it more than us," coach Mike Sullivan said. "I understand the circumstance we're in, but the answers are inside our locker room. That's where we have to look for them."
Ottawa, which has 47 points, is 3-6-1 in its past 10 games since recording a four-game winning streak. The Senators were outscored 19-8 in a four-game losing streak but stopped the slide with Tuesday's 2-1 home win over the Vancouver Canucks.
Ottawa's victory occurred after players acknowledged they did not show much emotion or urgency in a 3-2 loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday.
Senators defensemen Artem Zub and Jordan Spence scored 15 seconds apart in the first period following offensive zone faceoff wins. Tim Stutzle won the faceoff on Spence's goal and has points in 14 of his past 17 games.
The Senators finished with 40 shots on goal, two shy of their season high. Ottawa also conceded 20 shots, marking the fifth time in six games it allowed under 25.
"That was a solid game from our group tonight," coach Travis Green said. "Right from the puck drop. There is not a lot to complain about that game. Tough one at the end, but I loved our game."
The Senators also saw a 19-save performance from Leevi Merilainen. James Reimer likely is to make his debut for them after signing a one-year deal on Monday while fellow goaltender Linus Ullmark is away from the team for personal reasons.
Reimer played 22 games for the Buffalo Sabres after making two appearances for the Anaheim Ducks.
The Rangers earned a 4-2 win in Ottawa on Dec. 4 and are 5-0-1 in the past six meetings.