New York Rangers: Why This Is Not Only a Peak Part III
Now a quarter of the way into the season, the New York Rangers have extended their winning ways to sit on top of the Metropolitan division. Here is part three of this four part series on why fans can expect this type of play to last.
This mini-series on “why this is not only a peak” is to prove to the doubters that the Rangers play is for real. More importantly, it’s meant to focus on the fact that this New York Rangers’ team is for real. They’re putting their skill into every shift, and so far, it’s been working for them.
Reason 3: Skating Hard and Puck Possession
– Skating Hard
We hear the term “skating hard” used quite frequently, but what really is it? And more importantly, how does it affect a team’s overall game? When analysts coined the phrase, “skating hard,” they meant for it to describe the manner in which teams play with and without the puck.
Let’s start with the team’s play without the puck. Positioning is everything in a game of inches, and the Rangers have gotten many of their goals from small but intelligent plays in the blue paint. Recently, in a game against the Panthers, it was Mats Zuccarello with a pretty back-pass to Mika Zibanejad, who tapped it in with his skate for a goal just inside the crease. This was one example of many goals scored in the dirty areas. However, there are many more that deal with how unselfish the team is with the puck. It seems as if they are all certain they’re going to receive a pass that positioning comes easy.
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This leads to the second point of skating hard, the play with the puck. Since the start of the season, the Rangers’ play with the puck has been excellent. One of the biggest reasons for their success is that they have had a scarcity of giveaways. They are also first in the NHJL in takeaways this season. This leads to the Rangers having more chances to play an offensive game instead of one where they are forced to defend all the time.
Playing solid defense is important, but if that’s all a team is playing, they’ll most likely be a step behind the whole game. This is why the Rangers have been able to explode offensively recently. Some will argue the Rangers defense is not in the top five or even ten, but their smart play makes up for where they lack quite well.
– Puck Possession
Here’s where we get into some advanced statistics. Since the NHL initiated “corsi” scores, it has been all the rage in determining who will make a deep run in the playoffs. For those of us who don’t know what it is, corsi scores are found by adding all the shots of a team (on goal, wide, and blocked shots against) and subtracting it from the opposing team’s shots (on goal, wide, and blocked shots against). The average for teams is about 40%-60% of possession time. Anything above 55% is considered to be “elite.”
The Rangers take plenty of shots, but also surrender their fair share of shots. Still, being able to consistently get the puck on net is a plus for a team with as many playmakers as the Rangers have.
Take the loss to the St. Louis Blues early in the season. The Rangers outshot the Blues 15-0 in the third period and 35-18 in the game. And these aren’t just any shots; they’re quality chances. They’re finding the open lanes and taking hard shots.
Last season, one of the problems with the power play was that the Rangers waited too long with the puck instead of shooting. Eventually, New York would end up having the puck stolen from them and dumped down the ice. That isn’t as big of a problem anymore due to their increased speed and effective passing skills.
A few games this season have seen some less than impressive third periods. others have seen some slow starts in which they let up a goal in the first few minutes of play. Overall, though, over the course of these initial games, the Rangers have found ways to break up plays at the blue line and skate them back for goals.
And there are so many examples of this strategy that they seem to have implemented. In the game against the Winnipeg Jets at MSG, it was Chris Kreider and Zuccarello that made this kind of play to get a key goal. In the game against the Penguins in Pittsburgh, Michael Grabner made a similar play when he blocked a shot at his own blue line and tied the game at two.
Next: Why this is not only a peak Part II
Possession has been a key component for the New York Rangers.. For those who believe this type of play won’t last, these reasons enhance the capability of this team to maintain their offense and continue to make wise plays throughout the season. As long as they keep this play up, expect good things to come.