What the eye test says about Rangers as struggles mount in close games

SALT LAKE CITY — The Rangers had a goal advantage on the NHL-leading Avalanche on two separate occasions during their 6-3 loss Thursday night in Denver, but it never quite felt like they were in control. 

Such has been the case several times already this season, where the Blueshirts are technically one play away from securing at least one point — or maybe two — despite their overall performance. 

Just nine of their 22 games have actually resulted in a one-goal difference. Five of them have been losses. 

But in reality, the Rangers have spent a notable portion of their season in one-goal battles or tie games that theoretically could go either way.

More often than not, however, the eye test has indicated it probably won’t go the Rangers’ way. 

“It pisses me off when we’re in these one-goal games,” captain J.T. Miller said after the Rangers lost 3-2 in Vegas to kick off this three-game road trip. “It’s disappointing because I want to do more. That being said, I don’t think I need to change a lot to get there. It’s close. It’s just not clicking. The timing’s off. If I start chasing the game that way, it’s going to turn ugly for me. So I got to make sure I stay the right way and just worry about my own game and try not to get too frustrated. But the fact of the matter is we’ve lost a lot of one-goal games and I’m not producing.”