NBCSN will continue its coverage of the 2015-16 campaign tonight when the New York Rangers host the Buffalo Sabres at 7:30 p.m. ET. If you want to watch the game online, you can do so here.
Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault was furious about his team’s performance in Sunday’s 3-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators.
“Other than Hank (Henrik Lundqvist) and Quickie (forward Jesper Fast), we had so many guys that were off their game it was unbelievable,” said Vigneault, per the Daily News.
“We came out and turned it over three times, gave them Grade-A scoring chances right down the middle there. Geez, it’s tough to understand,” Vigneault said. “If you don’t come out and execute and play on top of your game, you get what we got tonight — you get blown out 3-0.”
The Rangers came out of the gate strong this season, but the reality is that they’ve been an average team since winning nine straight between Oct. 25 and Nov. 15.
New York has a 12-14-4 record since Nov. 19.
At times (like Friday’s 4-1 win vs. Carolina), it looks like their struggles are behind him, but then they turn in an abysmal performance a few games later.
“I thought we were getting somewhere and then we come up with this tonight so thanks, I’m outta here,” added Vigneault before bolting from Sunday’s post-game press conference.
For the Sabres, the rebuilding process has been long and painful.
Although they’re six wins away from passing their point total from last season (54), the Sabres still find themselves 13 points out of a playoff spot.
Losing isn’t easy.
“You should ask my wife that question maybe more than me, where I’m at with it personally,” Bylsma said of losing, per the Buffalo News.
“It’s difficult, there’s no question. We want to win every game going in. I know we’re in a development process with our team, how we play, how we want to play. The level which we want to play and compete is something we’re developing. I think it’s put us into being a competitive team, a team that should and does compete to win every night. It’s difficult when you don’t.”
Losing might not be easy, but it’s palatable when the end result is Jack Eichel...or Auston Matthews.