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, Pa...