NEW YORK – Peter Laviolette simply didn’t have the answers. The New York Rangers head coach spoke for less than 90 seconds after Tuesday night’s embarrassing 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames at Madison Square Garden, but there was simply no explanation for what was inarguably the worst defeat of the season given what was on the line. In truth, the final score was not even remotely an indication of how far apart both teams looked — only Igor Shesterkin was able to make it look close — in a game where both sides had every reason to play a desperate game, but only one did. So, there were no answers. There was no explaining away why his team couldn’t execute simple breakout passes. Why it kept turning the puck over. Why board battles or challenges for 50/50 pucks were lost over and over again. Why it settled for just 13 shots on goal in a game it had to have to maintain its status as an Eastern Conference playoff team, or why consistent blown defensive coverage allowed 35 shots on goal from a Flames team that showed it was willing to fight for a Western Conference playoff spot for 60 minutes. Truth be told, there was little to say. The play on the ice spoke volumes. And it stunk out loud. “We didn’t break the puck out,” Laviolette said. “We didn’t move it through the neutral zone, we probably turned it over countless times in the neutral zone, and that takes away from your offensive breakout…they worked harder for the ice than we did. There was nothing there. They got to the ice faster than us. They were more ready.” The second-year head coach was asked if it was concerning the way his team performed given it’s mid-March and playoff spots are on the line. The answer? That it’s “concerning any time of year when you play a game you’re not proud of.” The reality, however, is that this wasn’t just “any time of year,” not just some early-season loss. It wasn’t a bad luck defeat or a better team getting the job done. This was a team one year removed from a run all the way to the Eastern Conference Final — albeit a group that looks vastly different, for better or worse, after a slew of moves by general manager Chris Drury that have had varying levels of impact this season — that beat itself. Again. There were no positives to take from it. “Why would we,” asked an agitated Mika Zibanejad. No points to take from it either, of course. The Blueshirts now find themselves once again on the outside looking in when it comes to the Eastern Conference playoff race, having fallen behind the Montreal Canadiens in an extremely hotly contested race for the final wild berth. Another opportunity awaits on Thursday when the Toronto Maple Leafs come to town. One in which the Rangers know can’t at all look like the shocking effort put forth on Tuesday night. “I think there’s a lot we can take away,” said defenseman K’Andre Miller. “But, all we can do is move on…we just didn’t show up to play in one of the biggest games of the year.” ...read more read less