This is a team of contradictions. One moment they look like a Stanley Cup contender, the next they look like they’ve never been on ice before. And it may not be that extreme, but if they keep losing – like they did tonight, 3-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes – it’s not going to matter.

When it comes down to it, the fact that this team is confusing both their fans and the league means that they’re going nowhere. That’s because everyone was expecting them to be great. The amount of talent on the roster is unmatched in the division, but the way all this talent is playing is disheartening.

So let’s examine these contradictions – or at least the ones that were apparent tonight.

Is this a team of scorers or bruisers? Look at their offensive talent: Jaromir Jagr, Brendan Shanahan, Scott Gomez, Martin Straka, and Chris Drury are all elite offensive players. They also have the young guys like Petr Prucha, Nigel Dawes, and Brandon Dubinsky who are all offensively capable. And don’t forget the defenseman like Dan Girardi, Michal Rozsival, Marc Staal and Fedor Tytuin who can all contribute offensively.

So tonight, Shanahan puts them up with a powerplay goal 1:02 into the first period, and they’re then kept off the scoreboard for the rest of the night. This works in concordance with what’s been going on all year. So what gives? Are they focusing too much on playing a physical game – getting the puck deep and finishing checks? Too much Colton Orr and Ryan Hollweg? I don’t know.

And within this same thought process: Are they a hard-working and gritty team, or one that’s undisciplined? I know there’s no team in the NHL that wants to be known as a soft squad, but sometimes it seems this team is trying too hard to discard the idea that they’re a soft Czech team.

Just look at the first period tonight. When Gomez got face-planted into the boards, Avery went after the defenseman that did it. Good. They should defend their own. But did he need to immediately drop his gloves? He was credited with an instigator misconduct, but then came back for the rest of the game. So what’s the answer – play hard or play smart? There is a way to do both, but this team hasn’t found it.

And, of course, it all goes back to the head coach. Is he a really smart guy, never wanting to overact, or is he unemotional and detached? After the melee of the first period, Renney was listening to the refs, quiet and reserved. I think it was the only way to react to such a wild encounter. But it’s easy to think of him as not wanting to get mad at anyone. Maybe a chewing-out here and there wouldn’t hurt.

And just for the sake of brevity, will the real Henrik Lundqvist please stand up. Two years – really two years and then the beginning of this one – Hank has been outstanding. Maybe it’s his misgivings in recent weeks that has made it possible for this should-be great team to have no confidence.

I don’t know. I don’t any of these questions have really been answered yet. But results don’t lie, and leading up to the trading deadline (Feb. 26), they need to start winning or the answers don’t mean anything.

bcyrgalis@nypost.com