The New York Rangers hired Mike Sullivan with the goal of turning the team around after failing to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the 2024-25 season. It was a messy year both on and off the ice, and the organization hoped that a new voice in the locker room would bring fresh direction and energy. However, so far, the results have not been promising.

One of the key challenges for the Rangers this season has been their struggle to score goals at home. More recently, their performance on the road has also taken a hit. In a disappointing outing, New York lost to the struggling Calgary Flames by a 5-1 margin. The game was far from pretty, as the Rangers failed to contain Calgary in any area of the ice.

Pinpointing the exact reason for New York’s ongoing struggles is difficult. Nevertheless, Coach Mike Sullivan believes he understands the root cause. Following the crushing road loss to the Flames on Sunday, he took time to call out his team’s effort on defense.

“We’re not at our best right now, and we’ve got to find a way to dig our way out of it,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan explained that the drop in defensive performance did not happen overnight. Instead, it has been a gradual decline over time. He referenced earlier points in the season when the Rangers played solid defensive hockey, which kept them competitive in games.

“I thought for a lot of this year, we had done a real good job at controlling the defensive side of the puck and limiting not only the quality of chances but the quantity of chances. I thought tonight, the types of mistakes we made, they’re egregious.”

On paper, New York certainly has the talent to succeed. However, Sullivan emphasized that games are not won on paper alone. The team must find a way to climb out of their current hole.

The Rangers will take the ice again on Tuesday night, aiming to avoid a fourth straight loss as they look to turn their season around.
https://clutchpoints.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/rangers-mike-sullivan-calls-out-defense-flames