The overarching issue among Rangers’ woes during pivotal moments

The Rangers’ baffling unreadiness at pivotal moments in a game dates back to last season.

It is, of course, easily identifiable, but Mike Sullivan clocked it as a reflection of the team’s shortcomings in situational play. The first-year Rangers head coach has rattled off several instances this season, such as the start and end of periods, after a goal is scored and after a fight.

Those are critical moments in games, he’s pointed out numerous times, in which teams have an opportunity to build or stifle momentum.

Friday night at San Jose saw the Blueshirts give up their 14th goal of the season within at least the first 2:18 of a period. That includes overtime, in which they have surrendered the game-winner within the first 1:33 on three occasions.

The onus will always fall on the players who are actually taking the ice, but Sullivan took accountability from behind the bench as well.

“I think we got to have a readiness from the drop of the puck,” Sullivan said after the 3-1 loss to the Sharks on Friday night. “And trust me, I’ve thought about it because lately I think the last few games, we haven’t had the best starts. So I got to do a better job preparing them for it. I got to find a way to make sure they’re ready from the drop of the puck.”

The 14 goals do not even include the multitude of occasions the Rangers were caught slipping at the end of period.

Falling on the right side of momentum-changing moments has been a point of concern for this Rangers team. There’s a certain level of focus that is required to manage games effectively, and they have repeatedly blown critical moments.

Will Cuylle (50) and William Eklund (72) battle for the puck during the third period of the Rangers’ loss to the Sharks on Jan. 23, 2026 at SAP Center at San Jose. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Unable to avoid what’s gone on outside the locker room since the 2024 offseason, the Rangers’ on-ice product undoubtedly has been affected. Team confidence is so clearly fractured. There doesn’t appear to be much internal drive. It feels like they are anticipating defeat most nights.

As much as roster construction and chemistry are to blame as well, no club can function properly under the circumstances the Rangers have faced in the last 19 months or so.

It has been evident for some time that the team needs some fresh faces, hence the retooling announcement in “The Letter II.”

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The Rangers would like to believe that clarity on the organization’s status would alleviate pressure.

Mika Zibanejad talked about enjoying the time they still have with each other as a group.

Captain J.T. Miller noted that all the “B.S.” is out in front of them now, and they can try to enjoy the game again.

Alexander Wennberg (21) attempts to shoot past goalie Spencer Martin during the second period of the Rangers’ road loss to the Sharks. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

A team psyche, however, doesn’t always work so simply.

The Rangers might want to begin with starting games on time.

“It’s just they came out with more urgency,” Miller said of the Sharks. “We’re not ready to play, I don’t like saying that. Like, we were ready to play the game, but they won a couple more battles early on. They worked harder, they drew more penalties in those certain instances and capitalized on their power play. So, I mean, that was basically the start of the game. I mean, when we took the timeout, I think it was 3 ¹/₂ minutes into the game and was basically short-handed up until that point. So it’s kind of hard. But like I said, they earned their power plays in the beginning of the game, and they were just a little more urgent than we were.”

Due to the impending snowstorm, the Rangers canceled their Alumni Classic that was scheduled to take place Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

According to a news release, the organization assured that tickets purchased through Ticketmaster or directly at the MSG Box Office would be automatically refunded to the original method of payment.

Word is there are no current plans to reschedule the event, which was set to feature notable alumni such as Adam Graves, Derek Stepan, Mike Richter, Dan Girardi, Henrik Lundqvist, Marc Staal, Brian Boyle and Sean Avery.