Defense
Everyone knows that good defense wins championships. If you look at the Rangers’ defense, there are signs of trouble. This season they are allowing an average 3.14 goals per game, 23rd best in the NHL. Only one team since the 2004-05 lockout has been able to win the Stanley Cup allowing more than three goals per game in the regular season. The Carolina Hurricanes allowed 3.15 goals per game in 2006. The 2018 Washington Capitals allowed 2.90 goals per game and last season, the St. Louis Blues gave up an average of 2.68 goals.
Here’s the good news. The Ranger defense has been getting better. Over the first 40 games of the season, the Rangers allowed 141 goals, an average of 3.52 goals per game. Over the last 30 games they have allowed 81 goals, an average of 2.70 goals per game. Over the entire season, that mark would be the sixth best in the NHL.
The Rangers defense is built for the playoffs with three solid pairs that have matured throughout the season. The growth of the Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren pairing has solidified the blueline. and it’s precisely why the team acquired Jacob Trouba to anchor the defense. The challenge will be for Brendan Smith to step up as Trouba’s partner. The long layoff can only help an aging Marc Staal deal with the challenges of a compressed playoff schedule.