Following last night’s disappointing loss to Winnipeg, there was plenty of frustration afterwards from the Rangers. Twenty-eight games into Alain Vigneault’s first season, they’re a .500 team. Astonishingly, their record is 14-14-0. In today’s NHL, that’s literally impossible. Of the 30 teams, they’re one of two that don’t have an overtime/shootout loss. Colorado is the other. However, under Patrick Roy the Avs are off to a 19-6-0 start in a more competitive Western Conference. Overachieving instead of underachieving. Big difference.

”We’re definitely not getting the traction that I know we want,” Vigneault said after his team failed again to reach two over .500. ”The only way we’re going to get traction and get better is by playing more consistent hockey. Is this team a .500 hockey club? We’re certainly playing like one.”

Most baffling is the lack of consistency. Understandably, getting off to a bad start made it more difficult. Losing Rick Nash didn’t help. He remains the single 30-goal scorer they have. By far the most talented forward, he’s looked good since returning scoring four goals. He had a three-game goal scoring streak snapped last night. It wasn’t for lack of chances. He finished with a team high seven shots and was dangerous throughout. When he’s not scoring, others must step up. In their 5-2 win over Vancouver, it was a coming out party for rookie Chris Kreider. He recorded his first career hat trick against ex-coach John Tortorella which had him seeing red.

On a low scoring team that’s been held to two goals or fewer 17 times, Kreider has six goals tying him with the team’s best defenseman Ryan McDonagh for third. Ryan Callahan and Brad Richards each have seven pacing the club. When Glen Sather fired Tortorella, it was for two reasons. The first was because he felt they needed a different mindset that would result in increased offense. The second was due to him losing the room. Even if Slats felt he fell short of the team’s goal of winning a Stanley Cup. Ironically, a year removed from the franchise’s first Conference Final showing since last century. It was the Team President and GM who changed the roster. Even though I’m a Brandon Dubinsky supporter, bringing in Nash was a no brainer. With Tim Erixon barely playing for Columbus, the trade is basically Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov for Nash. You do that every time.

It was Sather’s other decisions which had a negative impact. By not re-signing Brandon Prust, he risked losing the team identity. Prust was a warrior who took on all comers. A look at the lack of team toughness since and it’s no wonder the Rangers have become so easy to play. Good teams either outwork them or bully them like Boston. A look at two frustrating losses to the Devils is proof that they’re not the same team. Sure. Most of the core remains with Callahan leading the way. There are 12 holdovers from the ’11-12 team that finished first in the Eastern Conference and won their first division since ’95-96. They include Brian Boyle, Callahan, Michael Del Zotto, Dan Girardi, Carl Hagelin, Kreider, Henrik Lundqvist, McDonagh, Richards, Marc Staal, Derek Stepan and Anton Stralman. However, gone is the resilient style that got them within reach of the Cup Final. Even in Games 5 and 6, the Tortorella Rangers fought valiantly rallying from three-goal and two-goal deficits before losing to the Devils.

One look at how the current team plays when trailing in the third period and it’s clear as day. They no longer claw back. When do they ever get a game tied up with a goalie on the bench? Not under Vigneault who preaches offense. A positive at least is the 14 wins are all in regulation and overtime which at last check is the number one tiebreaker. But earning extra points can be valuable. The Devils are the polar opposite with five overtime/shootout losses. That doesn’t include big overtime wins over Anaheim and Los Angeles. They squeeze every ounce out of minimal talent carried by Jaromir Jagr. It’s ironic considering what he did for the Rangers post-lockout. Even at 41, he still leads by example.

The Rangers boast plenty of team leaders featuring Callahan, Girardi and Staal, who’s having a dreadful year. There’s plenty of experience to draw on. But why are they struggling to string together wins? Defensively, they’re not as good playing a higher tempo. Defensemen have been caught up ice or out of position. Not just Del Zotto. Staal is minus-seven with three points. Whatever the reason, he has been a big disappointment. Forwards aren’t always coming back. Or they’re committing egregious turnovers like the one Derick Brassard had that led to Winnipeg’s second goal. Brassard has picked it up offensively but has had a penchant for bad giveaways. He’s not the same player who led them in scoring last postseason.

In order for this team to be successful, everybody must contribute. That includes character guys such as Boyle and Dominic Moore. They work hard and bring energy. Both win faceoffs and are strong penalty killers. However, one combined goal isn’t enough. Neither is Benoit Pouliot’s two goals and five points. Not what Sather brought him in for. He’s a talented former first round pick who can be streaky. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen it. Instead, he’s had a penchant for taking bad penalties and vanishing acts. Vigneault hinted that he might be a scratch for Thursday at Buffalo. That’s after Pouliot put together back-to-back solid efforts. Go figure.

There’s a lot wrong. Justin Falk plays on the blueline due to a lack of toughness. He then proceeded to get pounded by Anthony Peluso. Del Zotto was minus-three following a power play goal Saturday. John Moore has been a healthy scratch the last two. He has an identical amount of points (5) to Del Zotto. Derek Dorsett’s the toughest guy on the roster and is a middleweight. The list goes on. Basically, it’s the rock solid play from Lundqvist and Cam Talbot that’s kept them afloat. It must change soon.