Lost amid last season's run to the Eastern Conference finals was the Rangers' slow start to 2011-12. Through nine games last season, they had only nine points—or one more than they had at the same point this season. With the lockout-shortened schedule magnifying each game, the 2013 opening slump seemed more dire. But the Rangers have rebounded nicely with a pair of convincing wins—a 4-1 drubbing of the suddenly cool Islanders and a 5-1 pasting of the Lightning. If not for the continuing power play struggles, this team might have had a perfect week.
The good: The Rangers are scoring, and they're healthy. Ryan Callahan returned from a shoulder injury, and Dan Girardi is back from an undisclosed one. But the stars of the week were the youngsters: J.T. Miller, 19, scored twice in his Madison Square Garden debut against the Islanders, and speedy winger Carl Hagelin, all of 24, had two goals and an assist on Sunday.
Chris Kreider burst on the scene in last season's playoffs, but Miller may end up playing a bigger role this season. Hagelin was called "dumb" just last week by John Tortorella for an inability to execute line changes. Now the Swede is the prime beneficiary of the coach's decision to move Rick Nash onto Hagelin's line. Instead of a line of Nash, Marian Gaborik and Brad Richards, the Rangers have chosen Nash-Hagelin-Derek Stepan, and it's worked out so far.
The ugly: The Rangers won two games by a combined score of 9-2, so there really isn't anything to fill "the bad" category. But ugly may be too kind a word for the Rangers' impotent power play. The Rangers went 1-for-5 in their two wins. but they too often look completely lost with a man advantage. They have four power play goals through 40 chances in 11 games. Somehow, the Avalanche are slightly worse. The Rangers don't need an elite power play to be a Stanley Cup contender, but one that masquerades as decent would be a good place to start.
Up Next: On Tuesday, the Rangers visit the Bruins in a rematch of their best game of the season, a 4-3 overtime win on Jan. 29. Then they host the Islanders again on Thursday before welcoming the Capitals in a playoff rematch on Sunday.
