I don't even think there should be a debate when trying to figure out what's going on with this team. I initially thought that we could chalk it up to turnover and the need for time to build chemistry, but I was still in denial about last season when in that mindset. Last season was a ridiculous run. We all like to complain about bad Ranger luck, but last year basically everything that could have broken the Rangers way, well, broke the Rangers way.
1. Lundqvist was playing at another level. He is playing well this season, but not well enough to win games on his own, which he did several times last year.
2. Girardi had a career year, and McDonagh hopefully had a year that he will repeat again soon, but regardless they both played better than their current norm. This, coupled with Lundqvist's play got them through the time without Staal.
3. The Penguins were dealing with serious injuries all season. This missed opportunity loomed largest after the Pens were eliminated from the playoffs, but don't downplay the psychological impact Crosby's absence had on the confidence of his divisional opponents, especially the Rangers.
4. Just plain luck. The Rangers won a disproportionate amount of 1 goal/close games last season. We chalked it up to the team pulling together/having jam/being clutch/whatever, but in a league with this much parity, I think the biggest factor was luck. They haven't been so lucky this year.
All of that said, the bottom line to me is that Tortorella, or his system, needs to go, and this became true as soon as Rick Nash pulled on a Rangers' sweater. Grind/jam/grind is a good way to get as much as you can out of a team lacking talent, and it can make you look like a genius when you have luck on your side, but it's not the way to win it all in the modern NHL. The Rangers have the personnel to hang with anyone right now, and they need to be allowed to show that. There is no excuse for the fact that scoring goals is a problem for this team, and the fact that hasn't at least made Torts budge yet completely blows my mind.