Rangers vs. Islanders: What a Difference a Year Makes
Five games in, this Rangers team just feels different. Here's why, from Mika Zibanejad's resurgence to the NHL's youngest roster.
- The New York Rangers didn't just win a game last night—they won a game that a year ago they absolutely would have lost.
- Joe and I were recording tomorrow's episode of Blueshirt Bandwidth during this game, so I was mercifully spared from having to listen to the ESPN broadcast.
- Last year, the Rangers didn't win their third game at Madison Square Garden until December. This year, they got that out of the way fewer than 10 games into the season. This is a good thing.
- This was a game that last year's team would absolutely have lost. After Calum Ritchie and Bo Horvat scored two quick goals to knot the game at 2, last year's Rangers would have folded in on themselves and given up another three or four goals while pressing for offense.
- In the early going, there is just a different feeling around this team. Maybe it's because the goals are coming a lot easier than they did last year, but they're staying true to head coach Mike Sullivan's system and not having nearly as many breakdowns while hunting for goals.
- Eric, Joe, and I have said we are reserving judgment on this team—good or bad—until at least 10 games in. We're five in now, and I'm not breaking from that. I don't know what this team will be. What I will say is that these five games have been a lot of fun, and I couldn't have said that last year.
