The New York Rangers have been the worst team in the National Hockey League this season when it comes to playing in front of their own fans on home ice, and while they somehow managed to avoid an eighth shutout at Madison Square Garden on Monday evening, they still managed to match a dismal record that hadn’t been seen in multiple decades.
Not only did they lose the game by a 2-1 final score, but they also managed only nine shots on goal. For the Rangers, who are a historic Original 6 franchise, it was their lowest shot total since 1955.
Not only that, but it was also the lowest shot total by any team in the salary cap era; the previous lowest total was nine shots on goal in 2003, a mark set by the Washington Capitals against the New Jersey Devils in December 2003.
Not only was it a dismal night for the Rangers, but it also put a damper on the pre-game celebration for longtime New York forward and original Senators draft selection Mika Zibanejad, who was being recognized for appearing in the 1,000th game of his NHL career.
The New York Rangers Tied A Record Not Seen Since 1955
It’s truly astounding to think that the Rangers, who have now been around for 100 years, tied a game-record of futility not seen since Dwight Eisenhower was President of the United States.
This season has been nothing but a struggle for New York, who had expected a different result than last season when they decided to fire coach Peter Laviolette after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs and hired former two-time Stanley Cup winning Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan in his stead.
However, the Rangers have struggled to put together consistent offensive performances all season long, especially on home ice. They own the NHL’s worst record on home ice and are hopelessly out of the playoff chase because of it.
Not only that, but they made a significant change when they traded Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings last month, signaling the end of an era and the start of a retool. While veteran center Vincent Trocheck was also rumored to potentially be on the move, he ultimately remained with the club.
New York Did Not Make Things Difficult For Senators Goalie James Reimer
Senators goaltender James Reimer, who is playing in his first season with the club after signing as an unrestricted free agent earlier this this season, perhaps the easiest night of his NHL career.
He did surrender a goal, but made eight saves in a game in which he likely barely broke a sweat.
“These games are a lot harder than a 30- or a 40-shot night,” he said afterward about the light workload. “You’re not in a rhythm. You’re not feeling it. It’s not just happening, so you’ve just got to trust it and trust that your body knows what it has to do when the time comes. It’s a difficult game as a goalie to play mentally, but you just trust it.”
Rangers Tie Dismal Record Not Seen Since 1955 With Latest Loss