The Rangers Have Just 1 Win Over Their Last 6 And I've Never Been More Confident

Icon Sportswire. Getty Images.

When Jaro Halak was inked to replace Georgiev as the backup to Igor Shesterkin, I was thrilled. He dominated the Rangers over the course of his career. I mean whenever Halak was on the ice they simply couldn't score. What I didn't expect was for that same trend to continue despite him wearing their sweater. His first three starts as a Blueshirt haven't been the greatest (all losses) but he's also gotten no run support. Just two tallies for the good guys over that span which includes last night's goose egg against the rival Islanders. That's been an overall theme as the Rangers offense has dried up quickly after a hot start. They've dropped 5 of 6 and have totaled a mere six goals combined in those 5 L's - but believe it or not, they're actually playing excellent hockey despite the poor results.

Advertisement

Last year, for the most part, the Rangers relied on an other-worldly Shesterkin & a lethal powerplay to offset the usual possession number advantage their opponents had over them. It took an almost unanimous Vezina type of effort for them to find success playing uphill. While it's possible they could do it again this year it's a much smarter move to realize they need to change. They need to dictate play more, put more pucks on net and ensure their d-zone wasn't so highly occupied. The results haven't been there yet but the Blueshirts have done exactly that. They've fired off 40+ shots in half their games so far. Another with 39. They've held advantages in most analytic categories virtually every contest, none more telling than last night where NaturalStatTrick had them at 4.66 expected goals for. Obviously you don't rack up wins with "expected" stats but it's a flat-out fluke to get blanked with all that quality. The 2022-23 Rangers are getting a taste of their 2021-22 medicine. Karma is a motherfucker.

That's not gonna last though. This team excelled a year ago capitalizing on their minimal opportunities so, even if their overall percentages drop, their scoring should actually improve based simply on the increase in volume. They're shooting 7.36% so far - only one team has been worse. Last year they were a 10th-best 10.45%. If they were even shooting last year's league median they'd have 6 more goals on the year, which could easily have their 3-3-2 record looking like a much shinier 5-2-1. They're running into hot goalies. Their powerplay is in a 1-15 slump & overall they're a little snakebitten. It happens.

It's odd to say that you've gained confidence in your squad over the course of a 1-3-2 stretch but that's exactly what's happened. The Rangers have been playing quality hockey. That's just a fact. You don't win ALL the games you're "supposed to" but the more you're "supposed to", the more you'll win. If they continue putting this much pressure on the opposition they'll soon break through in a big way and start piling up the points they deserve. Let's also not forget, we've still got Shesty on the other end who's yet to lose a regulation contest. It's a marathon, not a sprint and if there's ever a time to be a bit unlucky, it's in October when the schedule is loaded with Western conference contests that aren't nearly as impactful to a squad that'll be jockeying for high playoff seeding in the East.

This isn't just silver lining, it's a sign of big things to come real soon on Broadway.

VIVA LA BLUESHIRTS!!!