I’m not even in the right frame of mind to recap this. I just can’t fathom how a team could lose TWICE to lowly Florida. They again turned Jacob Markstrom into a combination of Dryden, Sawchuk and Roy. In a game they out-shot their opponent 38-16, the Blueshirts forgot what made them successful the past three in which they totaled 18 goals. That included a 6-1 pasting of the same Panthers who started backup Scott Clemmensen. What if they had went with Markstrom? Would our guys have been able to solve him?

At this point, I’m inclined to agree with Scotty Hockey about our team. They drive you nuts. The chemistry that was here a year ago is gone. Our team beat up on the bad teams to put themselves in position to make it. All they had to do was win. Once Winnipeg lost to Washington in regulation, it should’ve been automatic. But not the 2013 New York Rangers. Against a horrible team who played conservatively to aid Markstrom, our coach wouldn’t even give Chris Kreider a lick. When they blew a first period in which they held a 10-2 edge, I knew they were in trouble. Their confidence slipped and they allowed Florida to take the lead.

With nothing happening for every line except the rejuvenated Brad Richards unit with Taylor Pyatt and Mats Zuccarello, who was by far our best player- John Tortorella refused to use his fourth line. In a game where they lacked energy no less. Arron Asham held his own against George Parros, who sought retribution for a hit Asham delivered on Erik Gudbranson at the tail end of last week’s game. They had been okay since Tort rolled four lines with Asham even helping set up a goal. Coaches often go to the fourth line when their team is flat, which was exactly the case here. But not Tort. He didn’t make any changes except playing three lines including Derek Stepan‘s line which was atrocious. And he didn’t adjust until the third, flipping Rick Nash and Ryan Callahan. Neither were particularly good.

The game was so bad I went to pick up my prescription at the start of the third. Lo and behold Pyatt tied it from John Moore and Zuccarello. That’s four straight games with a point for someone another blog ripped despite him having chemistry with Richards and Zuccarello. Obviously, they weren’t paying attention.

Even after they tied it, I never felt they would go ahead. Markstrom was allowed to see the shots and made the saves. Even if our team tried to pick it up in the third. A Richards tripping penalty resulted in the all too predictable Panther power play goal. Immortal Marcel Goc redirected a pass from earlier goal scorer Tomas Fleischmann. Our penalty kill has been inconsistent. They entered ranked a mediocre 15th. And wouldn’t you know it, it reared its ugly head again. One of the biggest issues with this club is their failure to clear the puck. Without Marc Staal and some of our former core guys, they’re inept. They fiddled with the puck until Brian Campbell kept it alive and helped set up  Florida’s second goal.

The Panthers sat back and trapped. And it worked because our team wouldn’t adjust. They turned over the puck and didn’t get shots. It was appalling. Even when Nash was taken down for a power play, the over-passing and lack of killer instinct returned. The best example I can think of is our beloved captain back passing to nobody following a rebound. The puck went out of the zone without a Panther doing anything. When Tortorella pulled Henrik Lundqvist, who still made two ridiculous saves to give us a chance, they threw the puck away and watched as Drew Shore flung it into an empty net from 170 feet.

Of course Derick Brassard scored with 32.3 seconds left after our powerless failure. You can’t make it up. A last ditch effort fell short because whoever had the puck last decided to pass instead of shoot. So, the Rangers now must assume Winnipeg will defeat plunging Montreal, who can’t seem to get out of its own way. They lost to the Devils 3-2. The Jets know if they’re to have any chance, they must win their final game Thursday and hope for help against us and Ottawa.

I’ll end this recap with how I feel as a fan. Watching this team makes me sick. I literally felt sick after they lost. My mood didn’t improve even though the Knicks beat the Celtics. That’s how much I live and die with the Rangers. For better or worse, they are my blood and guts. I’m embarrassed at how dreadful they were tonight. No hunger. No desire. No fire. Maybe Jeremy Roenick’s right:

Heartless.