There’s nothing easier than picking out the flaws of a NHL team you see every day, and, in this case, nothing easier than pointing out what the Rangers don’t do.
But of all the things the Rangers do not do, chief among them is that they simply do not allow goals.
In going 12-5-3, the Rangers have recorded an NHL-leading 2.05 GAA in surrendering a sum of 41 goals and only 29 at even strength as they prepare for tomorrow night’s Garden showdown against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins.
Again: 29 goals at even strength in 20 games.
Marc Who?
No, of course, the Rangers miss Marc Staal, but the job they’ve done without their No. 1 defensemen is all but remarkable.
The goaltending has been at a supreme level with Henrik Lundqvist off to the best start of his career — you can count the number of questionable goals on one or two fingers — and Martin Biron as reliable an understudy as there is in the league.
But that was expected. It was not, however, expected that a defense corps operating without Staal, who emerged last season as a towering presence, would become as effective as it has been thus far, hiccups acknowledged.
For the most part, they keep it simple by putting the puck in safe areas, making short passes and taking care to support one another and the puck without drifting. Yes, the backchecking forwards help, but that’s universal.
It’s more than Dan Girardi picking up the baton and taking it to an All-Star plateau, which is exactly what he has done in his partner’s absence.
There is the continued maturation and development at both ends of the ice of Ryan McDonagh and Michael Sauer, both of whom, it is nearly impossible to believe, are in their respective second big-league seasons with a combined 154 games of NHL experience.
(By the way, if justice is served when the NHL goes to Sochi for the 2014 Olympics as it must, Canada will have a defense pair of Staal and Girardi while the U.S. has a defense pair of McDonagh and Sauer.)
There’s the effectiveness of the third pair consisting of Steve Eminger and Jeff Woywitka, who despite limitations have been on the ice as a tandem for only three goals against.
But perhaps as gratifying, maybe as surprising, as any development is the bounce-back first-quarter from Michael Del Zotto following last year’s humbling sophomore season.
At 21, still just 21, Del Zotto is re-emerging. He is reminding everyone of the high ceiling that exists in his game. But in addition to that, he has avoided going through the floor while re-establishing a foundation for a long NHL career.
There’s been a sense of stability and toughness to Del Zotto’s game as he has been paired for the most part with Sauer. Indeed, that pair has been on the ice for just four goals against all season while generally matched against the opposition’s second line.
“I’m back to where I wanted to be, but by no means am I satisfied or willing to settle,’’ Del Zotto said. “I’ve already learned how things can change in a hurry by letting things slip even a little, so I’m aware every day of putting in my work and doing whatever is necessary to improve.
“I appreciate every day.”
Just as everyone can appreciate what the Rangers do not do.