There’s no question the Rangers defense has gotten better in recent weeks and helped spark the incredible season turnaround that’s brought them from near the bottom of the Eastern Conference to the cusp of a playoff spot.
But what the Rangers did in Thursday’s win over the Flyers was something they hadn’t accomplished since 2019, as all six defensemen registered a point.
The group combined for three goals; K’Andre Miller, Adam Fox and Braden Schneider all found the back of the net.
Schneider attributed the outburst to getting good chances and taking advantage of them — and not just from the defensemen.
“We talk about playing five-man defense, and we’ve done a really good job of doing that,” Schneider said. “And it’s the same thing in the [offensive] zone. When we can all get moving and create things, we’re hard to defend. We did a great job of all moving, getting shots to the net, and the forwards all did a great job backing us up. It’s fun playing hockey like that.”
Especially when you’re winning, as the Rangers extended their point streak to 10 games.
In that stretch, the defense has thrived, which Schneider believes has added to the confidence on the other end of the ice.
“We have the skill to score,” Schneider said. “I think we’ve done a good job of finding lanes, and the forwards have done a good job of getting to the net. They just haven’t been going in. To get goals builds confidence. I hope it keeps going.”
It was Schneider’s first goal since Oct. 22, when he opened the season with two goals in six games.
Scoring, though, is not his game, and while he was pleased to have added to his tally, his focus remains on keeping goals off the board.
“Good defense always leads to good offense,” Schneider said.
The defense has been helped by the recent play of Igor Shesterkin, now 6-0-1 in his past seven games.
He’s allowed two or fewer goals in five of those seven — and given up one goal in his past three.
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Shesterkin was at his best in the second period against the Flyers, when he stopped all 17 shots he faced, which helped the Rangers preserve a slim lead.
Philadelphia head coach John Tortorella said after the game the Flyers “couldn’t solve [the Rangers’] goalie.”
Artemi Panarin reached the 50-point mark for a sixth straight season with his assist in the second period Thursday.
Panarin is one of only seven Rangers to get to that milestone in as many consecutive seasons, joining Rod Gilbert, Andy Bathgate, Jean Ratelle, Mika Zibanejad, Mark Messier and Steve Vickers.
The Rangers are 9-1-0 when Reilly Smith scores a goal.
He has 10 in 47 games this season after scoring 13 in 76 games with Pittsburgh last year.