Through the first couple months of the season, the Rangers were at, or close to, the bottom of the NHL in the number of times they were shorthanded.
That’s improved dramatically, the Blueshirts coming out of the All-Star break and into Tuesday’s match in New Jersey, shorthanded the 12th fewest times in the league, and down a man only six times in the past four games and 17 over the past eight contests.
Now, the Rangers need to do a better job of killing those few-and-far opportunities against, standing an unacceptable 23rd in the league at 79.5 percent after closing sixth last season (84.3) and third in 2013-14.
“So much of penalty-killing success is about being aggressive as a unit, and so much of being aggressive as a unit and reading together is about confidence,” lead penalty killer Dominic Moore said following Monday’s practice. “You can be aggressive when everyone’s on the same page.
“If one guy goes and the other guy doesn’t, or if the forwards and defense aren’t reading together, that’s when it breaks down.”
This is the area where the Blueshirts appear to most feel the absence of Carl Hagelin. A year ago, Hagelin and Moore were paired on the first unit. Now, Hagelin has been replaced by Jesper Fast, who generally went on the third rotation with Tanner Glass last season.
The Moore-Fast tandem has been on for 10 of the 21 power-play goals the Blueshirts have surrendered since the Nov. 25 pre-Thanksgiving match against Montreal (one while two-men down), and 11-of-31 overall. Indeed, Fast has been on for 16 power-play goals allowed (two, 5-on-3’s) in 111:24 while Moore has been on for 15 in (one, 5-on-3) in 112:17.
“I think Jesper and I feel pretty comfortable together,” Moore said. “I think we’re on the same page. We haven’t gotten as many offensive opportunities as Hags and I, but I think those will come.”
Daniel Paille, who has played three games since signing with the Blueshirts, adds depth to the penalty-kill unit, but depth hasn’t exactly been the issue, for behind the Derek Stepan-Rick Nash second unit (on for nine and eight against, respectively), Viktor Stalberg has been on for three against in 46:16 with Oscar Lindberg on for one (in the first week) in 22:01. Jarret Stoll was on for six against in 56:31 before he was claimed on waivers by the Wild on Dec. 15.
“I believe we haven’t been assertive enough at certain trigger points in getting pressure on our opponents,” coach Alain Vigneault said. “We haven’t been as capable as I believe this group can be.”
Ryan McDonagh, excused from practice by collective bargaining agreement fiat after having played in Sunday’s All-Star Game, will join the club for Tuesday’s full morning skate.
Henrik Lundqvist will make his 41st start in 50 games, the most at this juncture of a full season since starting 43 of the first 50 in 2009-10, when he matched his season-high 72 starts. Lundqvist started 39 of the first 48 games last season before his extended absence after being hit in the throat with a shot. Antti Raanta’s nine starts have all come as part of back-to-back sets, of which the Rangers have nine remaining.
The Blueshirts are 9-12-3 on the road following last season’s 28-11-2.
“We know how to win on the road,” Marc Staal said. “But we just haven’t been able to do it.”