Rangers' Defensive Woes Are Cause for Alarm

On the surface, the New York Rangers' 18-5-1 record paints a happy picture. Despite key players missing time due to injuries and below-expectation starts from some prominent names, the Blueshirts have still managed to rake in 37 of a possible 48 points this season. Head coach Peter Laviolette's focal point from the get-go was to play each game like a playoff game and stay structured, and early on in the season, the Rangers did just that. The 1-3-1 trap-style forecheck tormented opponents, and an aggressive approach to protecting their blue line clogged the neutral zone and made it difficult for opposing teams to enter the Rangers' end cleanly.