Ryan Callahan celebrates a goal as Dan Girardi and Tanner Glass look.
Frank Franklin II/AP Photo Getty Images

It was a happy return for Ryan Callahan. He scored twice as the Lightning humiliated the Rangers 5-1 at MSG. Along with Brian Boyle and Anton Stralman, Callahan received a nice ovation from the crowd during a special acknowledgement on Gardenvision. The moment came during a TV timeout. Booed the first time he touched the puck, Callahan played well finishing a beautiful Steven Stamkos set up on the power play that put Tampa ahead 2-0.

There wasn’t much inspiration from the Blueshirts. In what can best be described as a listless effort, they didn’t show up ready to play. You would’ve thought that wouldn’t be the case facing one of the NHL’s best teams. They knew Callahan, Boyle and Stralman would be motivated. So were the rest of their teammates. Without Victor Hedman, the Lightning haven’t missed a beat. With Stralman handling the hard minutes and everyone doing their jobs, they look like a complete team. The scorers scored and the checkers checked making it a routine night for Ben Bishop (15 saves).

Coming off a great game Saturday at Pittsburgh, a lot more was expected. Instead, we got another inconsistent effort. When Dan Girardi basically called out the team for just showing up and not winning any 50/50 puck battles, it’s pretty indicting. Alain Vigneault couldn’t explain it. Henrik Lundqvist called it disappointing and emphasized that they have the team capable of playing their system. They looked disjointed and got taken advantage of by a good team.

There weren’t many positives. Outside of Marty St. Louis, who looked hungry scoring the only goal and seemed pretty upset afterwards, there aren’t many players who showed up. Sure. They might’ve skated but it was like watching a black hole. This was only my third game and one I looked forward to. Not just because of Callahan’s return but I also felt they’d play up to the competition. Not get outclassed. There really is no explanation. They’ve played 18 games and are a mediocre 7-7-4. As Vigneault mentioned about being .500, that won’t get them in the playoffs. Funny but I recall him echoing a similar message last year. When does the light go on?

The game turned twice. First, when Bishop denied St. Louis on a mini-break. Tyler Johnson then sent Nikita Kucherov in on a breakaway. Lundqvist got a piece of his deke but fell into the net and lost the puck resulting in Kucherov’s 7th. The officiating didn’t help either. They called Marc Staal for a trip a few minutes later. It sure looked like the Lightning player fell down. Tampa took full advantage thanks to Stamkos, who went around our defense and then dished for an easy Callahan tap in. As expected, the crowd groaned. There wasn’t much to get excited about. The Rangers only mustered five shots. It was hideous.

On a power play to start the second, they came out much better. With Matt Carle still in the box for tripping, Derek Stepan and Derick Brassard worked the puck across to St. Louis. St. Louis centered for Rick Nash but his pass deflected off a Tampa skate and in for his seventh which cut the deficit in half.

Suddenly alive, they then had a golden opportunity. With Stamkos already in the box, Alex Killorn took a delayed penalty. Instead of giving up the puck, they wasted time. The wiser play would’ve been to give it up so they would’ve had a longer two-man advantage. Instead, a lost faceoff and poor puck management allowed the Bolts two clears. They never even forced Bishop to work. It was a blown chance.

Vigneault emphasized the poor puck management in the postgame. Boy was it on display on Stamkos’ backbreaking goal. Girardi had already given away the puck in the middle forcing Lundqvist to bail him out. A moment later, Nash tried the same pass which was easily intercepted by Valtteri Filppula. He sent Stamkos in alone and the Lightning captain faked Lundqvist out of his jock for his 12th increasing to 3-1.

The Rangers never recovered. Even after a Killorn incidental contact wiped out a goal, more sloppiness led to Killorn finishing off a Johnson feed that made it 4-1 with 1:18 left in the period. At that point, a drunken fan in the next section yelled, “This team is heartless.” As painful an assessment as it was, it’s hard to disagree. There’s zero consistency. They didn’t battle the way they needed to. When you face good teams, they make you pay.

Even down three, I wanted to see if they would respond in the third. Instead, it was basically the Lightning controlling puck possession and blocking shots. Since they took our players, they figured they may as well execute that. As a team, they blocked 21 with Stralman leading them with five. Callahan also had a nice sliding block to deny a Ranger opportunity.

How bad was it? The Rangers only got 16 shots. Twice, they were held to five. You can’t be competitive. They weren’t. They mailed it in. There really isn’t much else to say. When Vigneault admitted that they basically made it easy on their opponent handing them pucks and easy scoring chances, it’s damning. It was so bad that I didn’t stick around for Callahan’s second. I left at the five minute mark.

This is one to throw away and burn. The Flyers visit Wednesday for Rivalry Night. If they can’t get up for them with Michael Del Zotto returning, then when? They need that game and better get the one Friday at Buffalo or I might blow a gasket. Sunday, the Canadiens come to town. I’ll be at that one too. Montreal has the best record so far. Any surprise? They’re hungry. When does our team start?

NY Puck 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Anton Stralman, Bolts (2 SOG, 5 blocks, +1 in 31 shifts-25:16)

2nd Star-Ryan Callahan, Bolts (2 goals-7, 8 in return, +2 in 14:53)

1st Star-Steven Stamkos, Bolts (12th of season, 2 assists, +2 in 15:43)