In a game that featured the two biggest free agent acquisitions of last summer, the New York Gaboriks, er, Rangers, played like a desperate team, while the Colorado Avalanche find themselves a team that needs to desperately start playing. Marian Gaborik embarrassed Craig Anderson while Chad Johnson shut down the rest of the Avs as the Rangers skated to a 3-1 victory.

This had better be a turning point for this young Colorado team. They’re in the toughest stretch of the year and they’re losing ground – fast. You wonder if the long season is finally starting to catch up to all the younger guys on the squad. Obviously the biggest issue right now is that our big names haven’t been earning their paychecks. The first line of Wolski-Stastny-Stewart needs to start producing, and it starts with Stastny. He’s a leader on this team and needs to step up. Wolski, our streakiest player, needs to get himself a goal already. A 19-year-old rookie (Duchene) has already outscored him this season.

This team doesn’t play again till Thursday, which will give them some time to sit and think about what they’ve done. Or haven’t done, rather. Hopefully, they can come out with more intensity, more desperation, now that they are officially a desperate team.

On a positive note, congratulations to Justin Mercier, who scored his first NHL point last night, an assist on Cody McLeod’s goal in the 3rd period.