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.
GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
24 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 37 | |
26 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 30 | |
25 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 29 | |
26 | 14 | 11 | 1 | 29 | |
23 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 27 | |
24 | 13 | 10 | 1 | 27 | |
25 | 11 | 11 | 3 | 25 | |
28 | 8 | 15 | 5 | 21 |