Rangers’ offensive firepower, defensive vulnerability on full display early

The two halves of the whole Rangers were on display through the first two games of the 2024-25 season. 

A team that trounced an inferior Penguins club also let an up-and-coming Utah team carve up its defense.

The Rangers scored 11 goals over six periods, but also gave up five in 60 minutes, including four in one period. 

The good, the bad and the ugly of the Rangers’ first 124.05 minutes of play was distinct. 

Perhaps that is a positive of their 1-0-1 showing to start the season.

The Rangers flexed their offensive strengths and their defensive deficiencies emerged early, partially due to the three new defense pairs with Ryan Lindgren on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. 

“With each line, I feel like there was obviously some good,” head coach Peter Laviolette said of Saturday night’s 6-5 overtime loss to Utah specifically. “We generated a lot. There was some bad where I felt like we could’ve been better as a line or as individuals — and I said that after the game — it was not a volume thing, it was a way-too-loud thing. I think maybe four goals came somewhere near the crease and that shouldn’t happen — can’t happen. That’s on us to make that area better.” 

Six goals in Game 1 and five in Game 2 is indicative of how much star power this Rangers team has come to own.

That should dominate the good headlines as they prepare for their third game of the season on Monday against the Red Wings at Madison Square Garden. 

The Rangers still managed to get a point against Utah despite allowing five goals because it’s a group that’s constructed to go goal-for-goal with any team in the NHL.

Key members of the top nine starting off strong has factored into that, with Chris Kreider, Alexis Lafreniere and Artemi Panarin leading the way. 

Kreider has become a master at threatening to score nearly every time he steps into the offensive zone, while Lafreniere’s confidence with the puck continues to soar.

With two goals and two assists already, Panarin has had both offensive and defensive highlights. 

The line with Panarin, Lafreniere and Vincent Trocheck has not missed a beat, but the newly constructed third unit of Will Cuylle, Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko has also managed to make its presence felt in each contest thus far. 

Oh, and goalie Igor Shesterkin is looking sharp after making 51 saves in two games — plenty of which came at pivotal moments. 

There wasn’t really anything to dislike about the Rangers season opener, but the defensive miscues Saturday night would be classified as the bad. It led to the Rangers losing a winnable game against Utah. 

Aside from a fluky goal, K’Andre Miller had a particularly rough Saturday night, with one costly turnover and a big miss on an open net in the third period.

Captain Jacob Trouba was caught out of position a couple of times, as well. 

That shouldn’t be as concerning though, considering the defense pairs are naturally still in an adjustment period after realigning in Lindgren’s absence. 

The amount of times the Rangers left Shesterkin out to dry, however, was the ugliest part of each game. Utah was able to slip behind the D and put point-blank shots on Shesterkin, who was also the only reason why the Penguins didn’t open the scoring in the season opener after fending off a flurry of shots in the first period. 

Mika Zibanejad’s one shot on goal through six periods and an overtime isn’t the prettiest, either. It’s early, of course, but the Rangers’ No. 1 center hasn’t done his line any offensive favors. 

Two games into the season, the Rangers’ self-evaluation is straight forward. 

It’s how they’re able to apply it that will ultimately matter.