Daily Report – 1/29/25

Hello,

Here is today’s report:

Rangers

For the first time since December 27, 2022, the New York Rangers were shut out at home, losing 4-0 to the Carolina Hurricanes last night.

On Sunday, the Rangers lost to Colorado after Artemi Panarin made a critical mistake with the puck, leading to a late Avalanche goal. Last night, a similar situation unfolded, but this time it occurred within the first minute of regulation. Panarin attempted to maneuver through three Hurricanes players but failed, resulting in a turnover and a goal.

“It runs through the team, and you have to sit him now,” said Steve Valiquette about Artemi Panarin. The issue extends beyond just the early goal last night; it also includes the late goal he allowed in the previous game. Panarin has been the Rangers’ best forward for years, but after a season full of career highs, he and his team seem to be forcing offensive plays too often.

When a hockey team seeks to create additional offense in response to scoring deficits, it often compromises its defense. A simple explanation for the Rangers’ fluctuating record this season is whether they prioritize defense. During their 4-15 stretch, they overcommitted to offense, while during their 7-0-3 run, the players emphasized defending first.

By suggesting that Panarin needs to sit out—whether for a shift or a period—Valiquette highlighted a complicated accountability issue that has plagued this Rangers core for several seasons. The core group (plus K’Andre Miller) constantly seems to escape consequences. Consider the numerous defensive mistakes Jacob Trouba made throughout his time on Broadway, or K’Andre Miller’s frequent turnovers. Meanwhile, Zac Jones, who is eager to contribute and put in effort, consistently finds himself scratched from the lineup.

On the other hand, Panarin rarely makes mistakes with the puck compared to some of his teammates, yet when he does slip up, he faces the same treatment as his struggling counterparts: another shift without repercussions. Steve Valiquette noted that the Rangers’ season is “teetering on the brink” because accountability in their gameplay is lacking. This observation should resonate with New York sports fans: it's all about accountability. While I recognize that Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad are not the players they once were, when will their errors reach a breaking point?

Looking at our Yankee friends uptown, there is a team that struggled defensively last season but masked those issues with home runs and the best offense in the American League. However, when the World Series arrived, their true shortcomings were revealed. Accountability could describe Aaron Judge’s dropped fly ball, Anthony Volpe’s missed throw to third base, or Anthony Rizzo’s misplayed groundout.

Next, look at the Giants across the Hudson. Joe Schoen always defends the team he built, and he and Brian Daboll, maintain their positions while overseeing one of the worst seasons in team history. Then, they won a game in Week 17, jeopardizing their chance to draft a top quarterback, while the player they should have selected advanced to the NFC Championship against their former running back, who is setting records in Philadelphia.

Here’s the reality: while accountability can often be a term fans use to rationalize their team’s mistakes, it also rings true in many cases. To win a championship, expectations must be clearly defined, and players must hold each other responsible (accountable) for their mistakes — or those mistakes will never be addressed. The Rangers have patched issues in their defense through wins and points – arguably the most important thing for them right now – but if their mindset doesn't align, they will fail to reach the playoffs.

You can call that accountability.

Last night’s 4-0 loss mirrored the Rangers’ previous 4-15 stretch, which is frightening. Another alarming statistic is that all four players involved in the Mikko Rantanen trade recorded their first points with their new teams against the Rangers (Peter Baugh). This reflects a lack of preparedness that is unacceptable at this point in the season. Heading into last weekend, the Rangers were just one point out of a playoff spot; today, they are fortunate to be only three points away.

Last night’s loss was frustrating, and I do not want to see the Rangers fall apart again. They have a challenging back-to-back set approaching this weekend, but thankfully, they get to take three days off first. The team will travel to Boston on Saturday and host Vegas on Sunday.

Knicks

Tonight at 7:30 PM (6:30 PM CST), the Knicks look to extend their three-game win streak as they host the Denver Nuggets (MSG, ESPN). The Knicks have scored 140+ points in their last two games.

It will be a heavyweight battle tonight between Karl-Anthony Towns and Nikola Jokic, the reigning MVP. Jokic is having a career year, but the Knicks have been defending well recently, so I have faith they can handle Denver.

In their last game against Denver on November 25, the Knicks won 145-118, and OG Anunoby scored a career-high 40 points. Towns added 30, and Jokic only managed 22.

?

Schedule

7:30 PM (6:30 PM CST): NYK vs. DEN; MSG, ESPN

That will conclude this report. Enjoy your evening.