The New York Rangers defense is among the worst in the NHL. That is no secret, and opposing teams have exploited that truth to beat the Rangers. For example, the Buffalo Sabres caged Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh in to the tune of a Corsi For Percentage of 24% each on Thursday night. That went a long way towards out-scoring the Rangers’ high-powered offense.
New York’s tragic downfall is their offense’s need to outscore their defense’s mistakes. The Rangers’ offense is tops in the league, dominating opponents at an unprecedented pace. Standing among the leaders of the Eastern Conference is no minor feat, one only amplified by the atrocity that is the defense.