Separating The Rangers Dressing Room Drama From The Real Stuff Ain't Easy

Every so often a dressing room can be mistaken for your favorite delicatessen – so much baloney is on sale.

It's usually dispensed as cheery homilies about fixing a losing streak or we really are good even though you're seeing bad.

The Rangers deli – er dressing room – is a reasonable facsimile. Deli owner Peter Laviolette isn't selling baloney but it somehow comes out like a large salami.

"There are things we can do better," Lavvy insists.

And that's no baloney. As his club awaits the Penguins on Friday at MSG, you have to wonder what the heck is going on with these skaters.

CHRIS KREIDER: We're at the quarter point in the season and this veteran left wing has a grand total of NO ASSISTS. (Not even half.)

MIKA ZIBANEJAD: Sometimes you have to wonder what’s going on with Z? Overpaid and over-slow, The man is a sad-sad-sad MINUS-14.

JACOB TROUBA-RYAN LINDGREN: A once-dependable duo – well Lindgren was – they look like they've climbed a steep hill – and are over it.

I won't get into the alleged – on paper – first-string goalie.

Now, here's the deli or non deli part: There was no baloney around this team last year. These Rangers won the seven-month, 82-game marathon on top with a virtually identical lineup. So, why are they looking like beer-leaguers?

"The answers are in this room," Lavvy insists. On Friday we'll find out if it's a real hockey clubhouse or a deli on skates!