The New York Rangers have managed just three points in their first seven games.
It's a long hockey season, but the Rangers could be in danger of playing themselves out of the playoff hunt early if they don't turn things around.
Fan frustration especially arises from the fact that, out of the five games the Rangers have lost, only one was decided by more than two goals. It's always a misplay here, a legendary Artemi Panarin drive bad bounce there.
What are the issues for the Rangers? A combination of roster turnover, coaching decisions, and a lack of steady defense seem to be primary factors. This article from the New York Post investigates further.
An Act of Light
As part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Random Acts of Light campaign, the New York Islanders welcomed Brandon Bloom, an eight-year-old with stage four non-Hodgkin's Lymphona, was given a pass to go throughout the entire stadium and got to practice with the Islanders Tuesday in official team gear.
An Islander for the day, but forever a part of our hockey family.
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) October 17, 2017
Keep fighting Brandon! #HockeyWithAHeart pic.twitter.com/ytoJ7cPSCP
Brandon was even given an honorary locker and invited to Tuesday night's game against the Arizona Coyotes.
Carrick No Longer in Carolina
Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
After a single game of NHL action from defenseman Trevor Carrick, the 23-year-old has been returned to the Carolina Hurricanes' AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. Carrick saw 7:32 TOI, put one shot on goal, and incurred a two minute penalty during his stint with the Hurricanes.
Carrick will rejoin Charlotte following his one game call up for a three-in-three starting Friday.
Capitals Without Best Defenseman
The Washington Capitals took a huge hit Saturday when it was announced that Matt Niskanen, arguably their best defenseman, was placed on long-term injured reserved with what appears to be a left hand injury. Niskanen will miss at least the next 10 games for the Capitals while he's on LTIR.
The Washington Post provides some further insight into Niskanen's injury, which is a tough one for the Capitals.
[Niskanen's] loss is a blow to the Capitals, already thin on defense after the offseason departures of Karl Alzner, Nate Schmidt and Kevin Shattenkirk.– Isabelle Khurshudyan, Washington Post
Flyers to Honor Snider
On Thursday the Philadelphia Flyers will reveal a new nine-foot bronze statue commemorating their founder Ed Snider, per ESPN. After founding the team in the 1960s, Snider served as the team's chairman until his death in April 2016.
A Wisely-Penned Contract
One of the depth moves for the Pittsburgh Penguins this offseason was signing free agent defenseman Matt Hunwick. The two parties have fit like a glove, according to nhl.com.
The veteran blue liner accumulates an average of 18:19 TOI for the Penguins and has added a goal, which came at even strength. He's also blocked 10 shots.
"So far it's been good," Hunwick said. "I think at certain times I need to learn to be a little bit more aggressive. There's certainly a high pace that we want to play here, and an aggressiveness that we want to play with defensively. At times, I think I can be a little bit conservative, so just getting out of my comfort zone, and playing the way that they want."
A Deal With the Devil?
If you can honestly look me in the eyes and say you expected the New Jersey Devils, a team that finished with only 70 points last year (in the Metropolitan cellar by 17 points) and lost two of its three best centers in Travis Zajac and Brian Boyle before the season started, to be 5-1-0 to start the season...then I would forever dub you Nostradamus.
The Devils are averaging a blistering 4.17 goals to start this season and have a new flair and speed about them that is fun to watch.
Of course, the Devils are only six games into an 82-game season and one can only speculate if their momentum will hold. But their start continues to be arguably the most surprising in all of the National Hockey League.
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