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Why the New York Rangers are a team to be feared when play resumes

By Steve Paulus

OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 5: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers celebrates his first period power-play goal against the Ottawa Senators with team mates Chris Kreider #20, Artemi Panarin #10 and Jacob Trouba #8 at Canadian Tire Centre on October 5, 2019 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 5: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers celebrates his first period power-play goal against the Ottawa Senators with team mates Chris Kreider #20, Artemi Panarin #10 and Jacob Trouba #8 at Canadian Tire Centre on October 5, 2019 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) /
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Jacob Trouba #8 of the New York Rangers (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

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.

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