Hartnett: Pirri's Slump Comes At A Bad Time For Injured Rangers

By Sean Hartnett
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Brandon Pirri knows he needs to raise his game, like immediately.

The Rangers' 25-year-old forward is currently struggling through a 10-game point drought. His last point was a goal against the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 15 and is his lone primary statistical contribution over his last 14 games.

"It's inconsistent," Pirri said when asked by WFAN.com about his recent play. "It's frustrating not helping out offensively. This happens to everyone. So, I've got to be good defensively, wait for those opportunities and shoot the puck. When you're slumping all you can do is control your work ethic. It's something I've got to focus on."

MORE: Hartnett: Rangers' Effort Has Not Been The Issue During Mediocre Run

At the moment, the injury-ravaged Rangers could really use a scoring boost from someone. The Blueshirts are currently without forwards Mika Zibanejad (broken fibula), Rick Nash (groin), Pavel Buchnevich (back) and Matt Puempel (concussion). Left wing Jimmy Vesey was slashed in the forearm during Tuesday's defeat to the Islanders and is expected to miss Thursday's game in Winnipeg against the Jets. Though the Rangers will get help with the return of Michael Grabner, who is rejoining the team after missing Tuesday's game to attend his grandmother's funeral in his native Austria.

The Rangers announced on Wednesday night that Nash is expected to be sidelined for a week following the results of an MRI.

The Rangers signed Pirri to a one-year, $1.1 million contract in August with the expectation that he would provide a lift to a power play that finished 14th in the NHL last season. Through 27 games, there has been an improvement as the Blueshirts are ranked ninth overall (21 percent).

Pirri has scored three power play goals, tied with Vesey and trailing only Nash, and his four power play points rank fifth on the Rangers. He ranks 10th on the team with a shooting percentage of 12.5, which is a point below his career average. Still, he admits he's been off target with his shots and is doing everything he can to improve.

"I was brought in here to shoot the puck," Pirri said. "I think (Tuesday) night I was a little better. At the same time, I can't be missing the net. It messes up the power play and the momentum. For me, it's just about getting back to basics and putting pucks on net. I thought we moved it well for the most part, but we didn't finish. That comes off a guy like me. When you're struggling, you've got to work that much harder. I've got to figure it out."

The 17-9-1 Rangers haven't been able to put together a winning streak since Nov. 13-15. Back then, the Blueshirts were lightning the lamp at an extraordinary 4.24 goals per game. Despite still leading the league, that figure has fallen to 3.59.

Head coach Alain Vigneault said he sees the chemistry between Pirri and captain Ryan McDonagh askew at the moment. When Pirri has been at his best, he's been scoring from open opportunities near the right circle.

"First of all, I think he needs to put more shots on net," Vigneault said. "On the power play more specifically, him and Mac have got to coordinate. For a shooter to shoot the puck, he's got to get it at the right spot. There seems to be either different pressures from different penalty-killing units there where he's not getting it exactly where he wants it -- or he needs to release it."

Pirri began the season by scoring six points in nine games. He has collected only four points in the 18 games that have followed. Vigneault expressed the need for Pirri to be finishing the quality chances he's receiving and making the most of his significant power play minutes. Pirri ranks third among Rangers skaters with 2:39 of ice time on the man advantage.

"One of the reasons why we were so impressed by how he played for us early on, whether it be in training camp or the start of the season, was that he was able to get those opportunities to the net and create a first opportunity or a rebound opportunity," Vigneault said. "And we need to see that from him. Our power play (Tuesday) night had great looks. At the end of the day, it didn't finish. It didn't give us that timely goal to put us back into that game. We needed that timely goal and he's one of the guys that's getting a lot of minutes on that power play and he needs to finish for us."

Starting with Thursday's game against the Jets, the banged-up Blueshirts face a tough stretch before Christmas that includes a visit to the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, a home game against the Devils on Sunday and then the Blackhawks again next Tuesday before they go out on the road for games in Dallas and Nashville. They host the Devils on the Dec. 18, then visit the Pittsburgh Penguins two days later before hosting the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 23, leading into the Christmas break.

As the weeks go by, the Rangers will get healthy bodies back in their lineup, but in the interim they need their healthy skill players to step up.

Pirri can help the cause by getting his game back on track.

Follow Sean on Twitter at @HartnettHockey