The Rangers conceded a season high on Tuesday night to the Islanders for their wildest loss of the year.
It was his first defeat by a five-goal margin this season, as the Islands dominated all areas of the ice in a game that was intense in the playoffs. However, the Blueshirts only outscored 28-26.
“When you lose six to one the way we did, it’s definitely humiliating, that’s for sure,” head coach David Quinn said.
After losing veteran defender Jacob Trouba in the middle of the first period, the Rangers struggled to equalize the physicality of the Islanders and allowed them to control the pace of play. Front-line center Mika Zibanejad said the Rangers needed to do a better job working together to make up for Trouba’s loss.
“I didn’t think we were getting to the level of play we needed, I felt disconnected,” Zibanejad said. “We were a little too far apart, and we couldn’t get the pre-control we have and the offense we usually have. That’s hard when you’re away from each other and you can’t get that support. Even all on the run, but I don’t know, he didn’t get to the level of play and obviously this stings.
“We have to learn from that, but we have to look ahead and move on and make sure we get there on Thursday.”
Aside from returning Igor Shesterkin to the net, the Rangers deployed the same lineup on Tuesday as the victory too close to comfort against the Devils on Sunday.
That meant defender Libor Hajek was scratched for the second straight game, with Anthony Bitetto in the third defensive pair alongside Brendan Smith. Bitetto, who was on the ice for the Devils ’two goals in the third period that tied the previous game, sat in the final 8:33 of Sunday’s win.
Bitetto was a minimum of three on Tuesday, with two shots on goal, three hits and a gift at 4:25 pm ice time.
When asked if there would be any changes in training, Quinn said she had not yet had a chance to deliberate.
“It’s too early to answer that question,” he said. “Just something I haven’t thought about yet.”
The Rangers have Zac Jones as one more option on defense after the 20-year-old signed his base contract last week. Quinn has said she wants Jones to earn his place in training and would connect him when he can impact.
“It’s been hard because we haven’t had a lot of team practice, it’s been hard to judge,” Quinn said of Jones. “He has a fast brain, a fast stick, great skill, he understands the game very well.”