NEW YORK _ The exhilarating, post-trade deadline sweep of their three-game Western Canada trip had the Rangers feeling good about themselves for the first time in several weeks. But Tuesday's matchup with the Winnipeg Jets at Madison Square Garden represented a major step up in class over the likes of Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.
Patrik Laine, the 19-year-old second-year forward who began the night tied for fourth among the league's top goal scorers, recorded his first hat trick of the season for Winnipeg to lead the Jets to their 40th victory, 3-0 over the Rangers, ending the Blueshirts' modest three-game win streak.
Jets goaltender Steve Mason, playing for the first time since suffering his second concussion of the season Jan. 12, made 30 saves to earn his first win since Jan. 9.
The Rangers now must quickly regain their focus and sharpness as they head off to Tampa for a meeting with the Lightning Thursday and a reunion with their former teammates, J.T. Miller, Anton Stralman, Dan Girardi and former captains Ryan Callahan and Ryan McDonagh.
