Rangers give fans a scare with mini-slump

October 31, 11:02 AMNew York Rangers ExaminerRob Cristino

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The Rangers are currently 8-5-1 (AP Photo).

It’s Halloween and nothing is more frightening than the recent play of the New York Rangers.

After having a seven game win streak snapped, the Rangers have now lost five of their last six games. It all started with a poorly contested 7-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks, and since then, has spiraled into a tough stretch.

Their most recent losses include a pair of poorly played games against the New York Islanders and the Minnesota Wild (two teams below .500).

Despite their struggles, the Rangers still stand in second place with 17 points in the Atlantic Division, five points in back of the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins and three points in front of the third place New Jersey Devils.

After going through a stretch where the Rangers recorded at least one power play point in the span of eight-straight games, the power play production has disappeared. New York has scored just two power play goals in their last 12 chances, including two-straight games without a power play point.

Mistakes have also riddled New York and opposing teams are taking advantage.

“That’s very much been the story on the Island and in here [Minnesota] because when we’re starting to gain a little bit of momentum, we let the other team capitalize on our mistakes, said Vaclav Prospal to Andrew Gross of Ranger Rants. You know teams like New Jersey and Minnesota are really known for their defense and it’s tough to come back against them. We played a little better in the third period. We still didn’t generate enough goals to at least make it to overtime.”

As if those struggles weren’t enough, the Rangers have also been bitten hard with the injury bug. Sean Avery(knee injury) and Christopher Higgins (ankle injury)have missed time on the ice with a pair of “lower-body” injuries, but the biggest name and biggest concern for New York is the health of fragile superstar Marian Gaborik.

As of Oct. 27, Gaborik has missed two-straight games with an undisclosed lower-body injury and was forced to sit out a game against his former NHL club, the Minnesota Wild. Gaborik spent his first eight seasons in the NHL with the Wild, but due to his injury, he couldn’t play during his first visit back in Minnesota.

“It is disappointing, but I can’t do anything about it,” Gaborik said to Gross about missing his first game back in Minnesota. “I’m trying to push myself to have a good feel, but it’s not there…I think I’m on the right track.”

“It doesn't feel great, but it feels better, Gaborik claimed. “It's not that serious. I have to make sure I do the right thing and treat and take it day by day.”

Given his injury-plagued past, any injury Gaborik suffers is a huge cause for concern.  Gaborik has been everything the Rangers could have imagined thus far, leading the team in goals and points. Gaborik has scored 10 goals, contributed eight assists, good for 18 points in 12 games.

The Rangers will have to take extra caution with Gaborik, to limit any further potential injuries.

New York will continue action on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 PM, opening up the month of November against the Boston Bruins.