Rangers Get Five-Day Break After Three Straight Losses
The New York Rangers began a five-day break on October 27 after losing three consecutive games, giving the team time to regroup before a three-game homestand begins Sunday.
After playing 14 games in less than four weeks, the Rangers have no game until Sunday. Coach Mike Sullivan gave the team Wednesday and Thursday off, saying time away from the rink could help players recover mentally and physically after a demanding stretch. He said the break should help the group return with renewed enthusiasm.
New York has lost three straight and conceded 18 goals during that run. The Rangers have allowed multiple first-period goals in each of those games. Sullivan said the team needs to sharpen its effort and add structure to make opponents’ work more difficult.
The break leads into nearly two weeks at home, starting with a Sunday game against the Edmonton Oilers. The St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia Flyers are next on the schedule. The Rangers have a 6-1 record at Madison Square Garden, and forward Gabe Perreault said the home games would be important after the pause.
Sullivan has not decided whether to put Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson back together on defense, after separating them during Monday’s loss. James Reimer missed Tuesday’s practice as a precaution because of an upper-body injury. He allowed three goals on eight shots in his Rangers debut before being replaced after the first period.