The New York Rangers have completed four games so far in this nascent NHL season, and there’s been plenty to like, dislike, and remain vigilant about. Plenty of those elements were accentuated on in a previous article.
Opening night on October 7th culminated in a rather inglorious beginning to the Broadway Blueshirts’ centennial season, but head coach Mike Sullivan’s messaging in the locker room has since elevated the team’s subsequent performances.
Speaking of Sullivan, he’s already coached against his former team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, twice in just six days, which leads right into the opening segment of how the early part of the 100th season of Rangers hockey has transpired thus far.
It’s not often that a team’s former bench boss gets to compete against them right out of the gate. That’s exactly what happened last Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. Unfortunately, highlights were sparse for “Sully” and his new squad, which was reflected in the final score of 3-0, Pittsburgh.
Justin Brazeau and Co dominated five-on-five play; scoring chances tilted heavily in the Penguins’ favor, 33-21, and the Rangers’ Corsi percentage – a statistic that measures puck possession via shot attempts – was just 48.21%. The only player in blue who showed up was goalie Igor Shesterkin, who allowed just one goal on 29 shots against, had 2.02 goals saved above expected, and had three high-danger saves. The lack of help from teammates also culminated in an ignominious feat for coach Sullivan.
Despite the underwhelming opening contest, Sullivan and the Rangers quickly rebounded against the Buffalo Sabres at the KeyBank Center two nights later. Captain J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafreniere both registered a goal and assist. Shesterkin made 37 saves, and Miller even gave a game puck to Sullivan to commemorate his first win with New York in a 4-0 victory.
The momentum carried over on Saturday in about abrupt rematch against the Penguins in Pittsburgh at PPG Paints Arena. Sullivan’s night began with a rousing tribute video, during which he humbly acknowledged a grateful mass of fans who witnessed back-to-back Stanley Cup victories with Sullivan as their coach.
Despite the cathartic gesture from his former employer, Sullivan didn’t let emotions get in the way of a convincing 6-1 triumph. It all started when Mika Zibanejad scored a shorthanded goal, something the Rangers’ first-ranked penalty killing unit has been very good at. New York has yet to surrender a power play goal this season; in 10 opponent opportunities, the Rangers have not given up a score.
After going 0-5 on the power play during their first two games, the Blueshirts scored two goals with the man advantage against the Penguins. Those tallies came courtesy of Will Cuylle and Adam Fox, the latter of whom already has three goals this season. Igor Shesterkin was brilliant in his third straight start in net, with 2.11 goals saved above expected.
Ten goals in two games is seldom accomplished, but the Rangers were left off the scoreboard for the second straight game at the World’s Most Famous Arena. In two home games this season, not one single Ranger has scored a goal; they’ve been outscored 4-0 on their home ice.
The lone highlight from Sunday night’s contest is fan-favorite Matt Rempe’s gargantuan hit on the cowardly Tom Wilson.
Final score aside, there was actually plenty to like about this game. Goalie Jonathan Quick put together an outstanding performance in his first start of this season; he had 1.17 goals saved above expected and allowed just one goal. At five-on-five, the Rangers generated 10 high-danger chances, 60 shot attempts, and 2.67 expected goals, which dwarfed the Washington Capitals’ output.
Washington is a division opponent who advanced to the playoffs last year, and net minder Charlie Lindgren simply played at an otherworldly level. Sometimes, even an average goalie has a career night. It happens.
At the end of the day, though, style points aren’t a thing in the NHL, and the Blueshirts need to put the puck in the net at home. Through 120 minutes of home ice time, they have failed to do so.
In a collision sport as violent as hockey, no player is ever operating at one hundred percent – and that’s especially true for the Rangers.
Already on injured reserve is defenseman Carson Soucy, who sustained an upper body injury after a startling crash into the boards during the second period against the Penguins on Saturday.
Center Vincent Trocheck, who is in the fourth season of a seven-year, $39,375,000 deal with the Rangers, is week-to-week with an upper body injury of his own. The Pittsburgh native hadn’t missed a single game since 2021-2022, his final season with the Carolina Hurricanes.
In response to Soucy’s injury, the Rangers recalled Connor Mackey from the Hartford Wolf Pack. Mackey was an undrafted free agent who first starred at Minnesota State University. In five NHL seasons, he’s played for the Calgary Flames and now-defunct Arizona Coyotes, in addition to the Rangers.
While the Rangers have been shut out twice in four games, there are still ample positive takeaways.
To the astonishment of no one, superstar goalie Igor Shesterkin is back to form. Among all NHL net minders, Shesterkin is first in goals saved above expected, second in goals above average better than expected, and first in wins above replacement.
That’s not all for the league’s highest-paid goalie, either. Shesterkin’s .976 save percentage is the best in pro hockey right now, and he’s relinquished just one goal in 179 minutes and 17 seconds of ice time.
Five-on-five play, which has been the Rangers’ Achilles heel for a long time, has been uncharacteristically strong for them. New York 51.28% Corsi percentage ranks 12th among all NHL clubs. Their expected goals for ranking is 10th, and they’re ranked fifth in goals for percentage. Their expected goal differential is sixth, and their 21 high-danger shots for is the best in hockey.
The defensive pairing of Urho Vaakanainen and Braden Schneider has logged 50 minutes together, and their expected goals for percentage ranks 26th among the 58 defensemen pairings who have played at least 25 minutes.
Applying the same amount of ice time to forward lines, the Rangers’ fourth line of Adam Edstrom-Sam Carrick-Matt Rempe is fourth among the 25 qualified forward lines in expected goals for. Will Cuylle-J.T. Miller-Conor Sheary, the third line, is ninth.
2023 first-round pick Gabriel Perreault also recorded his first professional point with the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday.
There have been bountiful scoring chances for the Rangers, too. In fact, their 89 scoring chances are first in the NHL, per Natural Stat Trick. 48 of those opportunities have been at home, and those chances will eventually morph into goals.
For all of the good, there’s been plenty of bad hockey in certain areas, too.
First and foremost, the power play has been infuriating to watch. The Blueshirts have capitalized just twice on 11 opportunities with the man advantage. New York has also surrendered 84 scoring chances against, which is easily the most in the NHL. If it weren’t for Igor Shesterkin’s return to form, a lot more goals would be scored against the Rangers.
Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad have combined for just three total points. Sam Carrick has as many points by himself as Panarin and Zibanejad have combined for. The stars need to start producing.
The penalty killing, bevy of scoring chances, spectacular play of Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox’s early production, and emergence of the bottom six are all encouraging signs for the Rangers.
Equally discouraging, however, is the enervated power play, lack of production from the highest-paid forwards on the team, and number of scoring chances given up. Those things all need to be corrected.
Unlike last season, this Rangers team has forged an identity early on. Can that identity keep evolving and prospering as the early part of the season progresses? Tuesday night against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers will provide some answers.
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