Panic is premature.
But the writing on the ice is impossible to ignore.
The Rangers return home from a three-game road trip on a season-high four-game losing streak — most recently allowing Utah to end a four-game skid — and are just one point out of the Eastern Conference cellar.
On Wednesday, they begin a difficult seven-game stretch, featuring trips to Carolina, Boston and Ottawa, plus visits from Tampa Bay, Dallas, Colorado and Las Vegas.
But first, the league’s worst home team (1-7-1) must get past the Blues on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
“There’s no time to waste,” defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov said after Saturday’s loss to the Mammoth. “Gotta just do a quick regroup and be ready for Monday.”
Mika Zibanejad skates with the puck during the Rangers’ Nov. 22 loss to the Mammoth. NHLI via Getty Images
Even if they are willing, will they be able?
The Rangers are averaging 2.48 goals per game, which ranks 28th in the NHL and would be the team’s lowest-scoring average in 17 years.
They have consistently failed to produce quality chances — getting outshot a combined 137-79 during the losing streak — and have repeatedly struggled to cash in their limited opportunities, ranking 29th in shot percentage (9.3), which would be the team’s worst mark in seven years.
While continuing to remain competitive because of the brilliance of Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick, the Rangers (10-11-2) have scored just nine goals in the past five games.
Will Cuylle skates with the puck during the Rangers’ loss to the Mammoth on Nov. 22. NHLI via Getty Images
Just five have come during five-on-five play.
“We’ve got to find a way to start creating chances again,” Mika Zibanejad said. “For the first part of the season, we were creating chances, just couldn’t finish it off. Right now I feel like we’re not getting as many chances as we would like. We try to address it. We try to talk about it. But we just have to keep going. We have to keep finding a way to get a little bit more ‘O’-zone time and generate from there. I feel like it’s easier to defend us when we’re one-and-done, and then they basically get the puck and go the other way.”
If not now, when?
The Blues (7-9-6) rank 30th in the NHL in goals against (3.64) and 29th in save percentage (.876).
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Saturday’s win over the Islanders marked St. Louis’ only victory in its past five games.
“Obviously, our five-on-five play hasn’t been the best,” winger Will Cuylle said. “I feel like we’ve got to get more pucks to the net, more guys in the crease and maybe bang in some dirty goals since the pretty ones aren’t really working right now.
“Any time you have a bad game, you pretty much have to hit the reset button. You can’t be looking to the past. I’m looking forward to the game on Monday and getting the win there.”
The Rangers recalled Brett Berard from Hartford, indicating captain J.T. Miller could miss his second straight game (upper-body injury) … The Rangers also recalled goaltender Dylan Garand, which suggests Jonathan Quick will likely be unavailable after colliding with Utah’s Michael Carcone in Saturday’s loss … Defenseman Will Borgen (upper-body injury) was placed on IR (retroactive to Nov. 18) after missing back-to-back games … Defenseman Scott Morrow was sent down to Hartford after making three appearances with the Rangers.