Rangers Blown Out as Win Streak Ends

NEW YORK -- With the Yankees in the ALCS, the Giants contending for another Super Bowl appearance and the ups and downs of Mark Sanchez captivating the city, the 7-1 start of the Rangers had fallen under the New York radar.

So it's only fair not to make too big a deal of the Rangers getting their doors blown off by San Jose on Monday night in a 7-3 loss at Madison Square Garden. Just like the seven-game winning streak, this too shall pass.

"As bad as it was, it's just one game and two points," said Rangers captain Chris Drury.

Drury was right, especially the bad part.

After jumping out to a 2-0 lead midway through the first period, the Rangers broke down in every aspect of the game. On a goal with two minutes left in the first period to tie the game at 2-2, Dany Heatley caught usually reliable Rangers defensemen Dan Girardi and Marc Staal standing still, split the D and showed his world-class hands in slapping a bouncing puck past goalie Stephen Valiquette.

Unnecessary penalties of the hooking, holding and tripping variety led to a parade to the penalty box and a pair of power goals for the Sharks. Asked for the areas in which his team failed, Rangers coach John Tortorella said, "Penalties. If guys don't stop taking them, I guess they'll have to lose some ice time. The only hammer coaches have is ice time." As for the Rangers' other failures, the coach said, "I'm not going to go through the list."

The Rangers gave up five goals in their previous five games. In a total team effort from Valiquette to the defense and forwards, the Rangers allowed five goals by the Sharks in the first two periods. With the game essentially over at 5-2 after two, the third period played like the second half of the Giants' blowout loss in New Orleans on Sunday. The key was to get through it without anyone getting hurt.

Give the talented and tough Sharks plenty of credit for ending the Rangers' streak. After getting off to a slow start for the second game in a row -- they were out-shot 19-8 and trailed the Islanders 1-0 after one on Saturday -- San Jose got their game back and let their high skill level take over. "The attitude was good, even when we were down 2-0," said Heatley, who had a goal and an assist. "When we needed them, we scored the big goals." Defenseman Dan Boyle called the win "a big opportunity for us. We've been playing .500 hockey and the Rangers had won seven in a row. We passed a good test on the road."

The Rangers failed the challenge presented by a top team in the West, but won't lose any sleep over it. "Plain and simple, we lost the momentum and couldn't get it back," said New York center Brandon Dubinsky. "We haven't played our best for a while. I'm not concerned because I know what we have here. We'll take a few days to get the wheels back on the bus."

If the notoriously demanding Tortorella was looking for a game to knock his sky-high team down a peg, the head coach has plenty of video to show at practice the next two days. The Rangers' next game is Thursday at home against New Jersey.

"We have some things to work on," said Tortorella.

Notes: San Jose was led by two goals and an assist from Devin Setoguchi and a goal and an assist from Patrick Marleau ... Sharks right wing Ryan Vesce, who grew up a Rangers fan in Lloyd Harbor, Long Island, scored his second NHL goal on Monday after getting his first Saturday in a San Jose win over the Islanders in front of his family at Nassau Coliseum.

Valiquette, starting his second game of the year, was benched after two periods in favor of No. 1 starter Henrik Lundqvist. "I thought Vali fought it," said Tortorella. "I was hoping he'd fight through it. I don't think he was sharp. That hurt us."

Rangers rookie defenseman Michael Del Zotto scored his fourth goal of season and his ninth point in nine games. Although he was eligible to be returned to London of the Ontario Hockey League without the Rangers losing a year off his Entry Level contract, his superb play has earned him a permanent spot on the roster ... Rangers captain Chris Drury played his 800th NHL game. Enforcer Donald Brashear is three games away from playing his 1000th game.