ST. PAUL, Minn. — Winger Vinni Lettieri said it himself before the game against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night: Opponents think the Rangers will be “a little soft.”
Well at least through the first 6:17 at Xcel Energy Center, the Rangers did little to dispel that notion. They slipped to a three-goal deficit and at one point had fewer shots at two than the Wild did goals at three.
And despite a valiant comeback attempt, the Rangers (27-25-5) eventually fell, 3-2, to the Wild (31-19-6) to snap their win streak at two games after emerging from a stretch where they lost seven of eight.