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Nine games into the season, the New York Rangers have experienced their fair share of highs, but injuries are beginning to mount and create cause for concern.
The most significant blow came with the season-ending injury to Igor Shesterkin, a setback that was always going to alter the trajectory of the Rangers' campaign. Shesterkin is widely regarded as one of the premier goaltenders in the NHL, and with Joonas Korpisalo also sidelined, New York is now leaning heavily on young netminder Dylan Garand to fill the void.
Given Garand's relative inexperience and the pressure of replacing Shesterkin, the Rangers will need contributions from up and down the lineup. Since Shesterkin went down, the team has posted a 2-1 record, though that stretch included a lopsided loss to the New Jersey Devils—a performance that left much to be desired despite being just one game.
One area where the Rangers could seek improvement is their second defensive pairing. The team invested significant effort this offseason to upgrade that unit, acquiring Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson in separate trades after the defense struggled as a whole last year. According to HockeyStats.com, the duo has logged just over 129 minutes together at even strength—the most among Rangers defensive pairs—but their on-ice results at even strength leave room for growth.
Their expected goals for percentage sits at 40.6%, a figure New York would ideally like to see higher. In terms of actual production, the pair has been on the ice for two goals for and three against. While expected metrics are not the be-all-end-all, they do offer insight into performance. By comparison, Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov boast an xGF% of 55.2% at five-on-five.
On the positive side, Durzi has an actual plus-minus of 0, and Pettersson sits at plus-3. What happens on the ice ultimately matters most, but the Rangers will be hoping to see this duo elevate their play as the season progresses.
Key Analysis
The Rangers' ability to weather Shesterkin's absence will depend on multiple factors, and the performance of their second defense pair is near the top of the list. While Durzi and Pettersson have shown glimpses of solid play, their underlying numbers suggest they have been outplayed at even strength. If New York is to remain competitive in a tough Metropolitan Division, the pair must tighten up defensively and drive play more effectively. The recent blowout loss to New Jersey served as a reminder that consistency will be crucial, especially with a young goaltender behind them.