Bantering Points: 12/7/16

After an abhorrent showing on special teams cased the Rangers to lose to the New York Islanders last night by a 4-2 margin, the team will look to move forward with the status of both Rick Nash and Matt Puempel being unknown for the time being. New York will have to prepare to face the Winnipeg Jets tomorrow night without the services of those two and hope for speedy recoveries. Here are today's news and links:

Rangers News:

• Highlights: NYI 4, NYR 2 (4:15 Video via NHL.com)
• Vin Cherwoo recaps last night's 4-2 loss at the Barclays Center (CBS)
• Sean Hartnett discusses how Chris Kreider has finally become the franchise power forward fans have been clamoring for (CBS)
• Larry Brooks writes that the Rangers realize that they haven't scored enough "dirty goals" as teams have found a way to counter their offensive strategies (NY Post)
• Brett Cyrgalis examines how two points weren't the only thing New York lost last night, as the team continues to be battered with injuries (NY Post)
• Steve Zipay notes that the Rangers are still yet to win a game at the Barclays Center after last night's game (Newsday)
• Jim Cerny points out how the perception around the two New York teams has drastically changed since last spring (The Hockey Writers)
• Dave Shapiro takes a look at who the Rangers could move if they were looking to reshape their roster (Blue Seat Blogs)
• Scott Charles expresses his thoughts on last night's game and how the team can move forward (Blueshirt Bulletin)
• Karly Redpath speculates about the reason behind recalling Marek Hrivik from Hartford and sitting a forward as a healthy scratch (Blueline Station)
• Postgame Notes: Marc Staal has been one of the team's few bright spots at the Barclays Center despite the Rangers' 0-2-1 in Brooklyn (Official Team Site)
• Postgame Interviews: Alain Vigneault, (1:21) Henrik Lundqvist, (1:59) Ryan McDonagh, (1:21) and J.T. Miller (1:07) (Official Team Site)
• He spent 79 games as a New York Ranger while sharing the ice with legends such as Wayne Gretzky and Jarri Kurri. Yesterday's player in the picture was.....Eric Cairns (Wikipedia)/

Around the NHL:

• Jared Clinton passes along word from Bill Daly that the NHL has no plans to change their concussion protocol despite questions that have been raised (The Hockey News)
• James O'Brien reports that former Ranger and current Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle shook off an injury scare to play in his 578th consecutive game last night (NBC Sports)
• Sean McIndoe believes that Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella's stock is on the rise (Sportsnet)
• Mark Spector breaks down how Kris Russel is making his former critics eat their words with his play for the Edmonton Oilers this season (Sportsnet)
• Frank Seravalli relays a scary incident from last night's Canucks-Devils game, as Vancouver defenseman Philp Larsen had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher after taking a hit from New Jersey forward Taylor Hall (TSN)/

Do you know who the Ranger in the picture is?