New York Rangers: Defense Embarrassing vs. San Jose Sharks

Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Well, all the good feelings the New York Rangers and their fans were feeling just two days ago have not only been thrown out of the window, but also set on fire.

After an impressive 60 minutes in Los Angeles, the Rangers went to San Jose to face the San Jose Sharks the next day and looked flat as can be. Nothing, however, was more embarrassing than the Rangers’ defense. There was absolutely no effort from their defenseman and forwards in their defensive game plan on Tuesday night.

The Sharks were able to do whatever they wanted, when they wanted, and it resulted in an 9-2 rout for the Sharks.

The Rangers’ offensive star Rick Nash left the game after the first period with a possible concussion, which could prove to be the end of the Rangers’ season after just three games if he has to miss the rest of the year or even a considerable amount of time.

Still, that cannot be an excuse. Nash is the biggest part of the Rangers’ offense not only because the Rangers will score less without him, but their time of possession will dramatically decrease also. This is what happened last night against the Sharks, and how can you possibly win games when you never have the puck? That said, the lack of effort from the first period on, Nash or not, is not an excuse for a 9-2 loss to any team.

Everyone from the Rangers’ forwards to their defenseman to their goaltenders played an unquestionably disgusting game. Where was the hustle? Where was the forecheck pressure? Where was the defense? Where was the fast-paced offense? Where was the pride? I know the Sharks are a great team especially at home, so the Rangers were expected to lose last night; but to get destroyed and embarrassed is something else.

It truly is a mystery what makes this team click on some nights and become invisible the next, but I know one thing is for sure: the Rangers’ lackluster season this year was not John Tortorella’s fault, and new head coach Alain Vigneault will end up regretting taking the Rangers job.

This will be the first time in a while that a Vigneault-coached team will not make it to the playoffs — not because of him, but because the players on this Rangers team lack the talent and passion to compete against a lot of NHL teams on a nightly basis.

Steven Carollo is a New York Rangers’ and sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, add him on Facebook, connect with him on LinkedIn and join his Google network.