The Rangers are off to a rough start. After winning what should have been their most difficult challenge so far this season on opening night in St. Louis, they have lost three straight games and have allowed 17 goals in the losses. In Boston, things haven’t been going much better for the Bruins either as the heavy favorites in the Eastern Conference have a hard time scoring goals and ended a three-game losing streak on Wednesday night after having never lost three straight during the 2013-14 season.

Mike Cole of NESN.com joined me to talk about the state of hockey in New York and Boston, the difference between the two cities when it comes to sports and the realization of how hard it is to win a championship once you lose.

It feels like just yesterday Henrik Lundqvist was face down on the ice with the Kings celebrating around him at Staples Center and the finality of the Rangers’ season immediately presented itself. But thanks to a Stanley Cup Final run, the offseason didn’t last long and after a little under four months, Rangers hockey is back starting on Thursday night in St. Louis.

Kevin DeLury of The New York Rangers Blog joined me to talk about getting over the Rangers’ devastating Stanley Cup Final loss to the Kings, what it feels like to have a short offseason following the team’s longest postseason in two decades and the change in the front office’s strategy when it comes to the roster.

Hockey is back and the Rangers are back. It’s been almost four months since the Rangers’ Game 5 loss to the Kings in the Stanley Cup Final and after the Rangers’ shortest offseason in 20 years, they begin the 2014-15 season on Thursday night in St. Louis. So of course that means it’s time to take a look at this season’s Rangers team.

WFAN Mike’s On: Francesa on the FAN producer Brian Monzo joined me to talk about what to expect from the Rangers this season after their Stanley Cup Final run last season, the emergence of youth on the Rangers’ roster and some hockey and football gambling.

Hockey is so close. So, so close. After the Rangers made it to the Stanley Cup Final and played until June 13, this offseason flew by with only a three-plus month break between Game 5 in Los Angeles and opening night in St. Louis. With the Yankees home for October and the Giants playing a must-win game every Sunday to stay in the playoff race, it’s good to have the Rangers back.

Ryan Brandell of Barstool Sports Chicago (known as “Chief” on that site), joined me to talk about the upcoming season by looking back at the end of last season, the Rangers’ and Blackhawks’ window of opportunity and living with the Stanley Cup-or-bust mentality.