Bad Habitants

After dropping their third game in row (albeit on the road and in OT), it's clear that there could be some serious issues with this year's team. Whereas the Blueshirts seemed poised and collected during their seven game winning streak, at ease with the puck and generally letting the game come to them, the team now looks like they're collectively gripping the stick a little too tight, either scrambling desperately to gain the lead or playing carelessly enough to give it up entirely. After watching the wins that followed the season-opener loss Pittsburgh, that first game seemed to be an exception to what we could expect to see this year. Now, it seems like putting together a string of wins was probably the aberration.

For me, the question early on was whether or not this year's squad actually has any depth. So far, that's still a question mark. The potential for solid secondary scoring is there, but outside of Gaborik and Prospal, there isn't a single offensive player who's contributed consistently. Despite his fiery play, Callahan has struggled to score lately. Similarly, Drury's been hustling but can't finish. Dubinksy isn't a first line center (now, last season, or ever) who probably won't hit 20 goals this season. Aside from his scrap with Mottau the other night, Avery's been toeing the line too carefully, probably because he's being kept on too short a leash by Torts. Poor Chris Higgins literally can't buy a goal. The fact that he really can't keep up with the transition game makes me think that his problems could be injury related. At the beginning of the season, he was solid on D and the neutral zone.

Obviously there are bright spots. Marion Gaborik is awesome. Without him, this team is below .500, no question. Del Zotto is on fire, Kotalik's minutes have been increasing and his play has improved remarkably since preseason, Enver Lisin seems like he's a goal away from going a real tear, and Anisimov seems to finding that highlight-reel creativity that shone through against Boston. Gilroy's offensive numbers aren't great, but he's solid on D and skates the puck in deep and often. Rozy has been decent enough to avoid getting jeered at home, and Redden's play has picked up enormously since last season.

Unless they turn it around soon though, things are going to get ugly, fast. Staal and Girardi need to get their heads screwed on straight again. And Hank, though he's made some key saves, has also been letting in some softies.

They're ten games in, but for some reason it seems like the entire season is hanging in the balance already. The next few weeks will probably make it clear if this year's Rangers are a legitimate threat to make a deep playoff run, or if they're another bubble team that's going to be fighting tooth and nail for eighth place in April.

The next two games are against Phoenix and the Islanders. Not exactly the cream of the crop right there, but games against the league's weaker squads can be pretty telling. Elite teams wipe the floor with cellar dwellers, every time. Bubble teams (and apparently, the Capitals) let the Islanders give them a run for their money.

So let's hope for the best, and end on a positive note: Scott Gomez still can't finish. Thanks, Bob Gainey.