The Rangers 6-2 loss on Tuesday magnified an ongoing issue for the Blueshirts.
According to a statistic by Meghan Chayka (before the club's 6-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday), the New York Rangers surrendered 4.52 odd-man rushes a game.
That statistical trend continued last night, as the Rangers got burned by their opponent in a loose, defenseless contest. The Senators are a team that benefits from that style, the Rangers learned time and time again last season that a reliable structure is needed.
In the Ranger's losses to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, and Ottawa Senators, the same issue led to the team's demise. That was too much open ice. It was skates turned towards their goaltender. It was pucks behind their jersey numbers.
In the last three games, they have allowed 13 goals.
Even in victories against the Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks, a volume of chances were surrendered, with fast breaks that led to goals from Colton Sissons, Anthony Duclair, and Josh Norris. Igor Shesterking and Jonathan Quick were left all alone to bail out their flat-footed teammates.
The Rangers will have three more days to readjust their defensive game ahead of Saturday's match against the Washington Capitals, who are currently off to a surprising 12-8-2 start.