The New York Rangers left Columbus with only a point, but they did keep one encouraging trend rolling: their penalty kill is absolutely humming.
That mattered because the rest of the night offered plenty of frustration. After the 7-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils to open the road trip, the Rangers showed more fight against the Blue Jackets, but Dylan Garand’s strong outing ended in a waste.
Garand turned aside the first 28 shots he saw, only for Kent Johnson to finish the game in overtime for a 1-0 Columbus win. Zach Werenski and Charlie Coyle picked up the assists.
The Rangers had chances to do more than settle for a point, and the offensive results away from Madison Square Garden continue to be an issue. Still, after the mess in New Jersey, there was at least something to take from the night, and it came on the defensive side.
Columbus had three power-play opportunities and came up empty on all of them. New York also failed to cash in on its own three chances, but the penalty-kill work stood out as one of the better parts of the game.
That’s becoming a real calling card for Mike Sullivan’s team. The Rangers have looked comfortable and organized when they’ve had to defend down a man, and they’ve now killed 29 of 31 penalties through 10 games. On the road, per NHL.com, they are still perfect, one of only four teams in the league that can say that.
At 93.5%, New York’s penalty kill is second-best in the NHL. The Rangers are tied with the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, and only the Toronto Maple Leafs are ahead of them at 96.43%, with just one goal allowed in 28 chances.
That’s a sharp turn from last season, when New York’s penalty kill sat in the middle of the pack at 79.92%, good for 15th in the NHL.
If this level of work holds and the Rangers can also rediscover last season’s power-play form, they may have a special-teams edge that puts them among the league’s best overall.
In Other News...
Rangers Take A Low-Risk Look At A Veteran Center
The Rangers have added a little more veteran presence to camp with Luke Glendening joining on a professional tryout agreement, giving the team a chance to take a longer look at a proven center without making a commitment. It is a familiar kind of move for this stage of the calendar, especially for a player like Glendening, who has carved out a long NHL career across multiple teams and brings nearly 1,000 games of experience into the conversation.
For Glendening, it is also another swing at finding a landing spot after he was in Tampa Bays camp on a PTO and came away without a contract. With New York, the arrangement keeps the door open for both sides, and it gives the Rangers a low-risk look at a player who can help shape the bottom of the lineup while the team sorts through its options. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Already Have An Oliver Bjorkstrand Problem They Didnt Expect
Oliver Bjorkstrand arrived on a one-year deal with the expectation that he could help give the Rangers another legitimate scoring option in the middle of the lineup. Instead, his role has slipped as the season has unfolded, with the rise of players such as Tye Kartye and Alexis Lafrenire pushing him further down the depth chart than anyone likely anticipated when the contract was signed.
Now the fit looks less settled than the Rangers probably wanted, especially as they juggle cap considerations and try to keep roster space flexible. Bjorkstrands place in the lineup has become one of those quiet but meaningful questions around the team, and it is no surprise that his name has surfaced as a possible trade piece if New York decides it needs to reshape the bottom of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Are Suddenly In The Middle Of A Goalie Market Twist
The Rangers have spent time looking hard at the goalie market, and the names connected to that search tell the story of a team keeping its options open. New York has scouted Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Karel Vejmelka, while insider Elliotte Friedman reported that Rangers goalie scout Scott Clemmensen has also been evaluating other possibilities, including Ville Husso, as the club continues to search for help in net.
What makes the situation more interesting is that the Rangers may wind up affecting a much bigger move without being the team that makes it directly. The goalie market could still be shaped by a Connor Hellebuyck chain reaction, and New York might end up serving as the trigger for that domino effect rather than the final destination. For a team still sorting out its goaltending picture, it is the kind of twist that can change the board quickly. [Read more 🡒]