The Rangers are at their greatest after they transfer by way of the impartial zone with function on each side of the puck.
With what number of sturdy puck handlers they’ve, it needs to be an space of the ice the Blueshirts can make the most of.
As a substitute, it’s been an space of the ice the Rangers have struggled to regulate, which has solely exacerbated their defensive miscues and poor decision-making.
“I feel our impartial zone [play] must tighten up,” Ok’Andre Miller advised The Put up after apply on Monday at MSG Coaching Middle. “I feel we’re turning the puck over a bit of bit an excessive amount of, making an attempt to make too many east-west performs by way of the impartial zone. These are ultimately going to value us. Clearly, seen it quite a lot of instances all through the 11 video games to begin the season, what number of instances the puck isn’t clear by way of the impartial zone and subsequent factor you understand it’s coming proper again at you.
“I feel simply enjoying good, not making an attempt to do an excessive amount of by way of the impartial zone — simply easy and predictable.”
Peter Laviolette pointed to 2 performs specifically — when the Rangers acquired caught standing on the blue line and on one other with an Islander popping out of the penalty field — from Sunday’s 5-2 win.
The Rangers head coach described it as breakdowns that stemmed extra from the offensive zone.
He did word, nonetheless, that a lot of the workforce’s troubles are coming from puck selections that they’re making as they enter the impartial zone or from not having numbers again following their offensive zone play.
Victor Mancini was the odd man out once more throughout apply on Monday, indicating that the 22-year-old defenseman could not play in opposition to the Sabres at Madison Sq. Backyard on Thursday.
It will mark the second straight recreation that Mancini served as a wholesome scratch for the Rangers.
Coming into Monday’s slate of video games, the Rangers penalty kill was ranked No. 1 in the complete NHL at 92.3 %.
Their three power-play targets in opposition to is tied with the Predators for the bottom quantity within the league.
The Rangers could have the break day on Tuesday earlier than they return to apply in Tarrytown on Wednesday.
After dealing with Buffalo on the Backyard on Thursday, the Blueshirts will head to Detroit for a recreation in opposition to the Crimson Wings on Saturday at Little Caesars Area.
