For Rangers, More Losing and Disgust
Trapped in his goaltending equipment, Henrik Lundqvist can display only so much anger. But he is clearly reaching a higher level of distress as the Rangers keep losing at home.
After Nashville's Nick Spaling opened the scoring Monday at 13 minutes 45 seconds of the first period, Lundqvist fired the puck down the ice in frustration as the Predators celebrated in front of his crease. Lundqvist lowered his head in exasperation when Rich Clune made it 2-0 four minutes later, and the Predators went on to a 4-1 victory at Madison Square Garden.
The Rangers (15-16-1) dressed the rugged forwards Arron Asham and Derek Dorsett - to add 'bite' to the lineup, as Coach Alain Vigneault put it before the game - but little moxie was evident as the Rangers lost a third straight game to open a nine-game homestand.
Making matters worse for the home team, Ryan Callahan sustained a sprained left knee in the first period and did not return.
Rick Nash temporarily awakened the sleepy crowd at the renovated Garden when he scored a highlight-reel goal for the Rangers at 6:38 of the second, taking a slick cross-ice pass in front from Brad Richards at the left point before shooting the puck over Predators goaltender Carter Hutton. The goal was Nash's sixth of the season, the 316th of his career and his 600th point.
But the Rangers put minimal pressure on Hutton the rest of the way, as Nashville smothered their attack throughout the third period. Hutton made 28 saves for the Predators (14-14-3), who had lost five straight games.
After Predators center Matt Hendricks increased Nashville's lead to 3-1 at 2:38 of the third, Lundqvist angrily kicked the puck with his left skate toward the right boards and the Rangers' bench.
Lundqvist was watching from the bench when Paul Gaustad recorded an empty-net goal at 18:54, completing the scoring.
Callahan, the Rangers' captain, injured his knee when he checked Nashville defenseman Victor Bartley and hit the boards awkwardly midway through the first period.
Callahan missed the season opener while recovering from off-season shoulder surgery, and then he fractured his thumb blocking a shot on Oct. 16, costing him seven more games.
The Rangers were also without Marc Staal for the second straight game. Staal, a 26-year-old defenseman, was found to have a concussion after a collision with Reid Boucher of the Devils during Saturday's overtime loss.
Lundqvist, who made his fourth consecutive start since signing a seven-year, $59.5 million contract extension last week, lost for the third time in four games since the announcement. Lundqvist, the 31-year-old franchise goaltender, fell to 9-13-1 this season, unusual territory for a player perennially the Rangers' most consistent.
The Rangers are 5-8-1 over all at home and 1-6-1 at the Garden since defeating Florida on Nov. 10. Their only home victory in the past eight games was over Vancouver and their former coach John Tortorella on Nov. 30.
Their road record - after a 2-6 start - is 10-8.
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