To say that the New York Rangers had themselves a good October would be the understatement of the decade. For the first time in franchise history, they went 5-0 on a road trip. Headed into November, they sit atop the Metropolitan Division with a record of 7-2-0, two points ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes; they are tied with the Colorado Avalanche for the third most points in the NHL with 14; and they have allowed the second fewest goals at 18.
Their 5v5 play has improved tremendously under new head coach Peter Laviolette; their special teams are clicking on all cylinders; and they are getting elite-level goaltending from both Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick. Contrary to what some have said on a certain social-media platform, these are not the 2021-22 Rangers. That team won in spite of itself; this team is making its own breaks. I have not seen a Rangers team with this much discipline and focus in a good many years.
To be honest, I'm somewhat surprised they've gotten off to such a fast start. Based on what we saw in the preseason, the consensus was that that the Blueshirts would likely struggle out of the gate. Comparisons to the 2013-14 team that went 16-18-2 in its first 36 games seemed appropriate. That this team has done as well as it has this early in the season confirms two things: 1. Laviolette was the right choice for Chris Drury; and 2. Gerard Gallant wasn't.
I don't wish the man ill, but it's clear that Gallant's unwillingness or inability to make adjustments was the primary reason for the Rangers collapse against the Devils in the playoffs last year. There is no other plausible explanation for how a series in which they dominated so thoroughly through the first two games turned so suddenly. The power play, which had gone 4-10 in the first two games, went 1-21 over the last five. It was obvious what had happened. Lindy Ruff made an adjustment on his penalty kill unit that took away the tip-in goals Chris Kreider was getting. But rather than tweak his power play, Gallant stood pat, believing it was simply a matter of execution. He was wrong and it cost him his job.
There are other differences, too. While the Rangers haven't fully implemented Laviolette's 1-3-1 system yet, there has been a reduction in the number of odd-man rushes and shots on goal the team has given up. Indeed, through nine games this season, New York has allowed an average of 26.22 SoG. Last season, the average was 29.33; in 2021-22, it was 30.83. Translation, Ranger goalies are having to work less hard than they have in the past.
Witness the game in Calgary. Shesterkin had to make several tough saves to preserve a 3-1 win over the Flames. Two years ago in Toronto, he had to practically stand on his head against the Maple Leafs just to get the Rangers to overtime, where Artemi Panarin won it late. The point is while goalies are required to steal the odd game or two for their teams, these types of heists should be the exception, not the rule. During Gallant's tenure in New York, they were the the latter.
But that's all water under the bridge. There's a new sheriff in town now. And while the first nine games of the season were an unqualified success, the next 12 are going to test the mettle of this team, starting with tonight's game against the Canes at the Garden. After getting off to a slow start, Carolina has allowed two goals or fewer in their last three games, all of which have been wins. It is one thing to beat a struggling Flames team or an Edmonton Oilers team without Connor McDavid; it is quite another to beat one of the best defensive teams in the NHL over the last two years. This will be the toughest opponent the Rangers have faced, so far.
And the schedule doesn't get any easier after tonight. In addition to the Hurricanes, the Rangers will face the Detroit Red Wings twice, and the Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars and dreaded Devils once this month. The Red Wings are one of the surprise teams in the league this season, while the Bruins, Stars and Devils are all legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.
The Rangers took care of business in October; and that was good. But all that earned them was the chance to do it again in November.
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