Yes I am a passionate Devils fan writing this…so think of the agony I am already experiencing. I have noticed ever since the Devils sweep of the Rangers in the 2006 playoffs, Tom Renney has slid deeper and deeper into the abyss known as the neutral zone trap. Think I’m kidding? The numbers this year back it up.
Without Lundqvist, the Rangers would be probably dead last in the NHL right now. So what does a stellar 1.61 GAA and .939 save percentage get you if you are the Rangers goalie?? Yes…that’s right…a .500 record (6-6-1). I never thought I would say this in a million years but the Rangers are downright boring!! Someone please document this as I never thought it would come to this…..EVER!
So is it really all Renney’s fault? The answer to that is no actually. Despite everything….did anyone believe at this point of the season that John Madden and Jay Pandolfo (6 each) would have more goals than Gomez and Drury combined (5)? I would have bet everything in my life savings along with my wife’s on no. The Rangers have been snakebitten at the net. Brendan Shanahan has 3 goals on 72 shots for example…that’s a 4.2 %…OUCH! Chris Drury has 2 goals on 48 shots for the same percentage. Their career numbers are 13 and 12% respectively by the way. They also hit crossbars and posts…well so have the Devils this season (3 last night) but I remember the Rangers-Penguins game where I swear the Rangers hit 3 posts on 1 sequence.
AND 
These two have been quite cursed so far.
Eventually I am sure these two goal scorers, particularly Shanny, will turn this around. On the other hand, some of the blame even there…has to go on Tom Renney’s hands. The Rangers are amongst the league leaders in shots blocked and attack zone time given up…but these are the New York Rangers. They aren’t exactly well known for defense. Many acknowledged the Rangers’ numerous defensive shortcomings. So what has Renney done? He has gone to the neutral zone trap almost full force. Now maybe he had to…but I don’t think Ranger fans or fans of the NHL would ever see this following stat.
23 goals in 13 games
Granted they have allowed the same number but that is good for…yes…30th in the NHL out of 30 teams. The Rangers are the worst scoring team in the NHL…I am still stunned to see that…hell it may traumatize me for weeks. Renney has offensive firepower out the wazoo…but yet there are so many instances when you see these guys just sit back and that has to be more on coaching than the players as it looks almost designed….even Jagr is playing more defense than usual. Look at how he has treated players like Nigel Dawes in his system…yet he may just be the best offensive player the Rangers have right now. It makes me wonder how happy Rangers and NHL brass are at this time.
The Rangers are a marquis team but maybe the NHL is kind of having a good chuckle at their expense. Remember the Rangers and MSG did file a lawsuit against the NHL last month over revenue. Maybe this is karma perhaps, maybe it is Renney or it could be both. One thing is for sure, if the Rangers continue like this…it will be Renney’s head that gets chopped off by management.
