The Rangers’ free fall continues, which leads to the big question: What’s next? 4 takeaways

NASHVILLE – Just over six months ago, the New York Rangers were two wins away from reaching the Stanley Cup Final. On Tuesday, they dropped a game to the bottom team in the league for the second time in eight days. They sit at .500 – a shell of last season’s Presidents’ Trophy team.

The Rangers lost 2-0 to the Nashville Predators, who joined Chicago as the last-place teams to beat the Rangers this month. New York has lost 11 of its last 14 games, tumbled from 12-4-1 to out of a playoff spot.

“We’re in the process of winning,” a terse Peter Laviolette said after the game. “Everybody’s upset about the whole thing. We’ve got to find a way out, and we’ve got to do it fast.”

The Rangers are 3-9-0 since general manager Chris Drury sent a memo to other teams saying he was open to business and mentioned the team’s longest-serving player, Chris Kreider, and the captain, Jacob Trouba, by name. They are 2-6-0 since Drury traded Trouba to Anaheim. This is a team in free fall.

“I think it’s all mental at this point,” defensive end Braden Schneider said after the latest loss. “We want to do the right things. We are working to do the right things and are just a hair – just a little off the mark.

Here are four takeaways from the loss to the Predators, the latest low point in the Rangers’ season.

Limited offense with Panarin out

Toppoint producer Artemi Panarin (upper body injury) went through the morning skate Tuesday, but missed his second straight game in the evening. The Rangers were already struggling to score before he got hurt. Without him it has become even more difficult.

Vincent Trocheck didn’t see a lack of effort against Nashville. He liked the chances New York created.

“We have to put the puck in the net,” he said.

Laviolette was OK with his team’s first two periods, but didn’t like the third. Nashville pressed in the period and finally broke through when rookie Adam Wilsby danced around Reilly Smith and slotted a shot in from the slot for his first NHL goal.

“We needed more in the third,” Laviolette said. “When you’re down 1-0, that’s when we have to find a way out of something. That’s where we’re not getting it done right now.”

In total, New York was outscored 24-16 in the final two periods. Nashville dominated expected goal share during that stretch, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Especially with Panarin out, the Rangers need more from their best forwards. They simply haven’t got that. Over the past five games, Mika Zibanejad, Trocheck and Alexis Lafrenière have just one point each. Kreider has zero.

Lack of defensive depth shows early

With Trouba gone and K’Andre Miller hurt, Laviolette went with a third defense pairing of Urho Vaakanainen and Chad Ruhwedel.

Ruhwedel went for a loose puck at the top of the offensive zone, but with Filip Forsberg charging, the defenseman deflected it to Jonathan Marchessault, giving the Predators a three-on-two rush.

“It’s a 50-50 puck at the blue line,” Laviolette said. “We’re going to get beat up. It can’t happen.”

Marchessault sent it to Forsberg in the Predators’ offensive zone. When Vaakanainen moved over to defend Forsberg, the Swede passed to Steven Stamkos, who found Marchessault with a backdoor feed. He scored to give the Predators the lead. It was a great play, but one that unfolded because of a defensive error. Nashville never relinquished the lead.

Cuylle shows some fire

Will Cuylle — who has 11 goals this season and plays with a ferocity the Rangers need — didn’t like a Luke Evangelista crosscheck when Igor Shesterkin dived on a puck midway through the second period. He stood up, turned and charged towards the Predators forward, as did Lafrenière. A scrum ensued and Marc Del Gaizo went after Cuylle at the end. Cuylle did not take kindly to that and threw the gloves to the ground. The fight was short. The Rangers forwards took a hit and then brought Del Gaizo to the ice.

“He’s not afraid of anything,” Schneider said. “I love the way he plays. He fights for us and that’s what we need right now.”

The Rangers got out of the melee with a power play, but it didn’t lead to a goal. They finished the night 0-for-2 with the man advantage. Trocheck thought the power play worked well, but once again couldn’t finish. Kreider rattled off several near misses.

“It’s a very good penalty,” he said. “We had four or five pretty good looks. That’s good. We worked hard and took the pressure off. Just the way it goes, unfortunately.”

What comes next?

The Rangers’ situation quickly becomes dire. They are now a .500 team and their next seven games are against teams currently in playoff position. Drury must decide if the answers to saving this season are in this locker room, and if not, if there are moves that can give the team a chance.

New York has two days off before playing in Dallas. The list may not look the same when the puck drops.

(Photo of Nashville’s Mark Jankowski celebrating teammate Adam Wilsby’s third-period goal: Steve Roberts/Imagn Images)