Last night’s game was not about beating the Devils. It was about the Rangers beating themselves, defeating themselves. The Ranger’s problem this season is that they are failing to develop a winning culture. So far, the 2007-2008 New York Rangers have been a Karma Chameleon this season. 

The only time in the last score of years where the Rangers were on a even keel for a full season and had that winning culture was ‘91 thru 94′. It didn’t come from the coaching. It came from the players themselves. It came from their commitment to each other. Each and every player committed themselves to playing their best game every game.

Last night, the leaders of this team, Jagr, Straka and Shanahan stepped up and showed every other player on the team what commitment really means, no one moreso than Marty Straka. I have never seen a greater exhibition of self-sacrifice and bravery then what Marty Straka did on that penalty kill. Marty sacrificed his body twice after his stick was broken by Karel Rachunek’s shot. He got a long ovation from the appreciative Garden crowd. His teammates on the bench banged the boards with their sticks in appreciation. That’s the way to breathe life into your team and your building. That is the example you want to set for the youth on your team. That is how to build a winning culture.

Every Ranger brought their best game last night. Collectively, the Rangers executed their game plan and played good defensive hockey. The Ranger’s powerplay, however, continues to struggle, often failing to get set up until the first minute expired. As illlustrated in the overtime, the Rangers play better offensive hockey 4 on 4. Too bad they can’t decline the power play. It was brutal to watch.  

Many Ranger fans complained in game threads on various message boards that yesterday’s game against New Jersey was boring. It was a low scoring, defense first, bore.  Funny, but to those of us at Madison Square Garden, the game went by very quickly.