Something is Rotten at the Garden. It's a privilege to put this jersey on and play in this city but I don't know if we know that as a team right now. S. Avery's words to the NY Post following the embarrassing loss to Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden.

Ex Ranger B. Betts would set off the Barrage of goals only :54 seconds into the match before Ranger fans were even comfortable in their seats yet. The first :54 seconds was the beginning to an end of a long ugly night for the New York Rangers and their fans.

Period one would end in a 3-0 hole and a goaltending change at the start of period two. Chad Johnson would make his debut between the pipes for the Blue Shirts only to see his first NHL goal go by him only twenty three ticks in off S. Gange stick. Gange scored his second of the night on the Power Play and it was good for a 5-0 Flyers pounding. Gange would finish off his hat-trick in the final session and 6-0 shut out victory on garden ice was complete.

A disgusting effortless effort from New York in the Ups and Downs month of December. We saw a step forward during the Rangers four game win streak only to see the two steps back in the losses to the Islanders and embarrassment against Philadelphia.

The Rangers have one more game this month on the eve of the New Year and it's against the last place Carolina Hurricanes. The Rangers were victorious last game they played in Raleigh and need to have a game opposite of this one to succeed.

Don't let the Canes record fool you this team is getting healthy and have been playing well of late. And their goalie Cam Ward is always tuff to beat. Will the Champaign taste sweeter on New Years Eve for the Garden faithful with a hope in the New Year? Or will the Rangers continue where they left off in the Flyers game? If they do they will be out of the playoff hunt quicker than the New Year will begin. But if they can get a win in Raleigh they will have sole position of eight place in the Eastern Conference.

For New York Rangers Video Recaps http://www.puckvideo.com/rangers-2009-10-dec-jan.htm