"Dwayne Roloson accused his Islanders earlier in the week of mailing in an effort because they were looking ahead to playing the Rangers. So what exactly were the Rangers looking ahead to Wednesday night, Christmas dinner? Or was it golf in April?

Thirty-three games into the season, the Rangers are on the fast track to oblivion, and they greased the wheels Wednesday night at the Garden in a punchless, passionless and ultimately pointless endeavor, a 2-1 loss to the Islanders in the opener of a pivotal home-and-home between the archrivals. The Rangers lost for the fifth consecutive time and the eighth time in nine games (1-6-2), and if they haven't yet hit rock bottom, there is always the chance of sinking even lower tonight when these teams get together again at the Coliseum.

John Tortorella, fuming after the game, unleashed a profanity-laced tirade over the Rangers' effort and seemed to promise changes for tonight's rematch.

"There has to be something done, and we'll see along the way here, before tomorrow night's game, we'll see where we go with it," Tortorella said. "It's just simply unacceptable how we start that game. And I wish I could give you a ----ing explanation about it; I can't."

Asked what could be done differently tonight, Tortorella said: "Play ----ing harder.""