Subpar Start

There is no way that this is the start New York Ranger fans were expecting after months of anticipation. An 0-1-2 record combined with the vacancy of Marc Staal on defense probably has some fans a little worried about just how this year will play out. Keep one thing in mind though; It was not that long ago the Philadelphia Flyers had that awful start and went on to be one of the best teams in the East (hopefully no one on our team is banging their teammates wife, but that's a story for another day Jeff Carter).

With no clear cut top line LW for Gaborik and Richards heading into camp, the Rangers are still trying to mix and match to find the perfect line combinations. From the first few games (especially against the Islanders) it should be pretty clear that for now that vacancy at LW will be filled by Derek Stepan. Stepan certainly does have the skill to fill the role, but this creates problems on the third line. Without Stepan at center, it's become pretty clear that Mats Zuccarello is not as effective (which is made even more evident by his reassignment to the Whale), and the question still remains whether or not can Brian Boyle continue to elevate his game.

Right now the Rangers are short Staal and Sauer, which has Tortorella scrambling for defense pairings that will connect. There's no way a guy like Jeff Woywitka will remain a fixture in the lineup upon Staal and Sauer's return when we have guys like Erixon and Del Zotto up and coming. That being said, I wouldn't mind seeing Del Zotto sent back down again. Sure he has great vision and excellent hands, but the guy cannot play in his own zone. What good are you contributing offensively as a defenseman if every goal that is scored is your fault?

There are 2 good things to come from the Rangers sub par start. Gaborik looks like the 40 goal scorer from 2 years ago, and Lundqvist has picked up right where he left off. With these two things going for this team, it's just a matter of time before the Rangers assert themselves to the top of the Eastern Conference. The first 1-2 weeks of the season really do not mean much (if you need reassurance take a look at the Western Conference Standings as for the 2nd straight year Colorado is #1). Our window of opportunity is in the next 1-3 years, so the sooner this team can cement the better our future will be.

It's time for the Rangers to really grind down and pull out some tough points in Canada over the next few games. The Canucks, Flames, Oilers, and Jets are all very beatable teams right now, and if the Rangers could get themselves back to 500 before their home opener, it will set the stage for a monster 6 game homestand.