When the Rangers visit Air Canada Centre tonight for a classic Original Six match-up against the Maple Leafs, rookie Cam Talbot will be back in net. It’ll be his first start of 2014. Henrik Lundqvist got the last three starts winning two of three. Unfortunately, a bid to earn his first three-game win streak was halted again by the Penguins, who humiliated the Blueshirts 5-2 last night. In the first two periods, he gave up four goals on 17 shots. In the third, Chris Kunitz ended a comeback for the final margin. Lundqvist finished with 23 saves.

There wasn’t much positive. Outside of Mats Zuccarello, who continues to impress with a goal and assist, the Rangers didn’t compete. They were passengers defensively allowing a more gifted opponent to plant their feet in front and beat Lundqvist. The most glaring example was Benoit Pouliot, who stood and watched after Marc Staal chased the man behind the net instead of the puck. This wasn’t on Staal but rather Pouliot for failing to rotate down low. It allowed Jussi Jokinen time and space to beat Lundqvist top shelf. Jokinen had entered without a goal in 14. Of course, he snapped out of it by scoring a pair and also drawing a lazy penalty on Rick Nash that led to the Pens’ first from Kunitz on the power play.

Speaking of Nash, he led the Rangers with six shots but wasn’t effective. He was far from alone. Not many Blueshirts competed. Outside of Zuccarello, rookie Chris Kreider and Ryan McDonagh, there wasn’t much else. Derek Dorsett laid out to block a shot and paid dearly. He’s out four to six weeks with a broken fibula. J.T. Miller takes his place in the lineup. There will be no other changes. Despite horrific D, Mike Del Zotto remains out along with Justin Falk. Fed up with getting the run around, Del Zotto had his agent request a trade. Wherever he winds up, it won’t be for fair value. The Rangers destroyed it. I make no secret of the fact Alain Vigneault has treated Del Zotto differently. The sooner he leaves, the better for his career.

A win tonight would result in a winning five-game road trip. It’s just hard to be encouraged after what we saw last night. Two steps forward and then two gigantic steps back. And we’re not talking no Paula Abdul jive. Just the facts.