New York Rangers: Five thoughts through 15 games

Looking at what’s happened in the first 15 New York Rangers games.

The New York Rangers finished their 15th game of the season on Saturday night with a huge 5-4 overtime victory over the Florida Panthers. The game was a riveting back and forth affair, with Kevin Shattenkirk’s snipe past Roberto Luongo clinching the victory for the Rangers.

The win moved New York to within one point of a playoff spot, at a 6-7-2 record. Of course this is not where we would like the Rangers to be at this point of the season, but considering their horrific start, it’s not bad at all. While the defense has struggled, the offense has stepped their game up.

Amidst rumors of Alain Vigneault potentially losing his job, the Rangers stepped up with a big three-game winning streak. By no means should that mean Vigneault is here to stay, but it does show that the Rangers can play with urgency.

However, the Rangers have shown an inability to play consistent, 60-minute hockey. As the season continues to unfold, let’s take a step back and look at five thoughts through 15 games.