If you checked the game sheet of tonight’s Rangers’ 5-2 loss to the Blues, you probably think they didn’t play badly. If only it were that simple.

The Rangers out-shot the Blues by a healthy 43-19 margin. It didn’t mean anything. By continuing to play passive hockey during the worst stretch of the season, they’re costing themselves games.

It didn’t matter that they were without Mika Zibanejad, who was a late scratch due to sickness. The flu is going around. Hopefully, it’s not a team epidemic.

If you watched Thursday night’s game, the Rangers looked like they were in a malaise. There were too many missed assignments and undisciplined play that allowed the Blues to score four goals on 19 shots past Igor Shesterkin. It was the latest game that he gave up four or more goals. It was the third start in his last four where he allowed at least four goals.

Of course, it isn’t all his fault. The Rangers gave gotten away from the structure they had. At one point, they were one of the league’s best defensive teams. Continuing to sink out of the top 10 in goals allowed per game, they’re headed the wrong way.

The issue is that the Hurricanes continue to climb in the standings. Their latest win (6-3 over Ducks) pulled them within three points of the Rangers for first place in the Metropolitan Division. The Islanders and Flyers are six behind. Teams behind the Rangers are catching up. That great start afforded them a slump. They’re under .500 over the last 17 games (8-8-1).

Fox Scores and Then Gives It Back

Skating without Zibanejad, the Rangers dressed 11 forwards and 7 defensemen. That meant a cameo for Zac Jones. It also significantly weakened the Rangers’ lines. Jonny Brodzinski replaced Zibanejad to play with Chris Kreider and Will Cuylle. Barclay Goodrow centered the third line between Jimmy Vesey and Blake Wheeler. The checking line was Jake Leschyshyn with Nick Bonino and whoever they double shifted. Neither played much.

Related: Rangers’ Depth Is Becoming An Issue

At least Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, and Alexis Lafreniere were still intact. Despite generating a lot of offense at even strength, the Rangers’ best scoring line was shut down by Blues goalie Jordan Binnington. He had a strong night finishing with 40 saves. That included a combined 13 on Lafreniere and Panarin. Both couldn’t solve him.

Before two minutes had gone by in the game, Adam Fox scored his fifth goal of the season to give the Rangers an early 1-0 lead. He put in a Goodrow rebound for his second goal in three games.

But after he’d put them ahead, Fox made a mistake that led to Jordan Kyrou tying it. Following both players colliding inside the Blues’ zone, Fox was late to recover. Kyrou got back up quickly and was left wide open to bury a Pavel Buchnevich feed for his first goal of what proved to be a big night.

Kyrou Puts Blues Ahead

After Bonino took an ill-advised delay of the game penalty, that put the Blues on the power play. It didn’t matter that they came in with the worst ranked power play.

Instead, the four Rangers’ penalty killers backed up and allowed Robert Thomas and Buchnevich easy access to set up a Kyrou power-play goal for a 2-1 Blues lead. This was about as soft as it gets. Nobody took anyone. It was way too easy.

Even in a period where the Rangers created some opportunities, they were held to one goal on 13 shots by Binnington. While they applied forecheck pressure, the defense remained sketchy. Kyrou nearly completed the hat trick before the first period concluded.

Undisciplined Penalties Doom Rangers

In the second period, the Rangers were their own worst enemy. They took three consecutive mindless penalties. Those undisciplined penalties doomed them.

After killing off a Brodzinski holding minor, Goodrow interfered with Torey Krug behind the Rangers’ net. That put the Blues back up a man. Unable to capitalize on the penalty, the Blues were handed a third straight man-advantage when Trocheck hooked into Kasperi Kapanen.

It only took 13 seconds for the Blues to cash in with another power-play goal. Brandon Saad converted from Brayden Schenn and Krug to put the Blues ahead 3-1 with 10:34 left in the second period.

Kreider Comes Close Twice

Finally, on the power play after Krug slashed Kreider, the Rangers sent out a top unit that included Lafreniere with Panarin, Fox, Trocheck, and Kreider. They moved the puck around well. Kreider came close twice.

He hit the goalpost on two chances. One came early on the five-on-four. The second came later. Binnington was able to cover the puck to get a stoppage. He also denied both Panarin and Lafreniere.

That’s the kind of game it was. The Rangers couldn’t quite figure out how to beat Binnington consistently. Luck was on his side on the Kreider opportunities.

Kyrou Gets Hat Trick

On a broken play in the Blues’ zone, Nick Leddy cleared the puck right to Kyrou, who got the hat trick with under 13 minutes left in the third period.

He picked up the puck and skated in and beat Shesterkin with a wrist shot that made it 4-1 Blues.

While there was still 12:59 left in regulation, it didn’t look like the Rangers could mount a comeback. When you subtract Zibanejad from a lineup that already lacks depth, it becomes predictable.

Trocheck Scores on Power Play

If there ever was a deserving Rangers player who should make the All-Star Game in Toronto, it’s Trocheck. He continues to play well. He scored on the power play to cut the deficit to 4-2 with 9:02 remaining.

After Cuylle drew a slashing minor on Thomas, Trocheck followed up a Kreider rebound to beat Binnington for his 13th goal. That gives him four goals in three games. He has eight points over the last four games. He continues to get it done.

Buchnevich Seals It

With Shesterkin off for an extra attacker, the Rangers tried to make it interesting. However, a former player ended matters. Buchnevich sealed it by scoring into a vacated net with 18 seconds left.

Buchnevich had another good game for the Blues. He finished it with a goal and two assists. In 38 games this season, he has 13 goals with 19 assists for 32 points. The 28-year-old right wing continues to produce well for the Blues.

In 174 games with the Blues, Buchnevich has 69 goals and 106 assists for 175 points. He’s over a point-per-game since the Rangers traded him on July 23, 2021, in exchange for Sammy Blais and a second round pick. It’s safe to say the Blues won that trade.

Rangers Play Capitals Twice

The Rangers will play the Capitals twice this weekend. It’s a classic home and home series. Both games are at 1 EST. The first one is in Washington on Saturday, Jan. 13. The Caps then visit Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Jan. 14.

Those are the last two games of the regular season series between the old Patrick Division rivals. The Rangers and Caps have split the first two. The Caps took the first meeting 4-0 on Dec. 9. The Rangers took the second meeting 5-1 on Dec. 27.

Whether Zibanejad is back or not, the Rangers have to play better hockey. They’ve become too soft. There have been some bad losses over the last month. They have to get it going soon.