NEWARK – The New York Rangers remain consistent in their inconsistency. In a season that seems like it will end without a trip to the playoffs, the Blueshirts once again failed to string together three straight wins, falling to the New Jersey Devils, 4-0, at the Prudential Center on Sunday afterno on. The Rangers failed in their eighth opportunity for their first time putting together three consecutive victories since mid-November, unable to ever truly go on the type of run that would solidify a postseason spot, one that seems to be slipping out of their grasp with just six games left to play and a two-point deficit to Montreal for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, with the Canadiens set to play the Philadelphia Flyers later on Sunday. It’s pretty simple moving forward. Every point matters. “Whether we won or not, we’ve got to win the next game,” forward J.T. Miller said. Easier said than done for a group that saw the same issues that have cost them all year long plague them once again in their nationally-televised matinee matchup against their Hudson River rivals. Timo Meier opened the scoring for the Devils at the 10:56 mark of the second period to give New Jersey a 1-0 lead on the power play, but the real momentum change seemed to come less than 90 seconds later, when Jesper Bratt’s shorthanded goal took the wind completely out of Blueshirts sails. On a team as skilled as the Rangers, it remains stunning that special teams have been such a focal point of their most recent downfall; since March 4, they’ve scored just twice on the power play, while allowing three shorthanded goals, including Bratt’s. “It’s the difference right now,” said defenseman Adam Fox of the special teams showing.  “The margins right now are so thin. 5-on-5, I think we’ve been pretty good, but you let up shorthanded goals and let up power play goals against…it’s costing us, and it has been for a little bit now.” Of the six games remaining on the schedule for the Rangers, four are against playoff teams, including two against the Tampa Bay Lightning and one each against the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes. It’ll be an uphill battle at this point – the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings are both in the race as well, just two points behind the Blueshirts heading into Sunday afternoon — and one that Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette seems to know his group won’t win unless things change quickly with how his team defends. “We’re looking for something offensively, maybe pressing too much,” he said. “Any time you’re doing that, you’re subject to get caught the other way.” ...read more read less