Rangers defensemen ‘focusing on our end first,’ break out offensively against Flyers

The New York Rangers got at least one point from all six defenseman in their 6-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. A rare feat, one not achieved by the Rangers since Dec. 8, 2019. But it’s one that was well deserved for a defense corps that has helped stabilize the Rangers during a 7-0-3 surge that has carried them back into the playoff race.
The defense cashed in offensively against Philadelphia, with goals from Braden Schneider, K’Andre Miller, and Adam Fox leading the way. Fox and Miller each had an assist for two-point nights. Will Borgen, Ryan Lindgren, and Urho Vaakanainen each registered one assist.
While it’s great to see the defense contributing like this, what’s more important is how they have played in their own end.
“I think we’re playing good,” Schneider said postgame. “I think we’ve done a really good job of focusing on our end first and protecting our goalies. We have two of the top goalies in the League. If we’re making their job easy, we can score. We have the skill to score, and we’ve done a good job of trying to eliminate those big chances. I think it’s been working.”
Schneider got the scoring started for the Rangers with his third of the season — and first in 42 games — after the Flyers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, and New York never looked back.
It was a pretty slick move for a player known more for his prowess on the defensive side of the puck.
Related: 3 Rangers takeaways from convincing 6-1 win against Flyers
Rangers uptick in scoring starting in their own end

The Rangers went on to score six unanswered goals against the Flyers in a game that matched two teams competing for a wild-card spot — along with a half-dozen others. Perhaps the biggest goal came from Miller, who scored through a Vincent Trocheck screen to make it 3-1 during a second period when the Rangers were not at their best but were bailed out by Igor Shesterkin, who stopped all 17 shots he faced.
Though Miller’s goal was clutch, it’s his two-way play that got coach Peter Laviolette most excited.
“I thought it was good that (Miller) generated some offense,” Laviolette explained. “But I thought he was good in the defensive zone tonight. I thought he was a horse out there. He was heavy and he used his skating. He broke pucks out with speed and added to the rush in the neutral zone. I thought he played a real strong game for us.”
Miller led all Rangers skaters with 21:46 TOI against the Flyers and was tied for second with three blocked shots. The Rangers again had a strong game in that area, finishing with 18 blocks.
This season has been a struggle for Miller, but his game has really come around since the addition of Borgen, who’s been a key component to the Rangers playing better defense in their own end. The two have been a steady pair on the blue line.
The Rangers out-chanced the Flyers 32-29 in the win, and while they gave up more high-danger chances, 17-11 in favor of Philadelphia, Shesterkin stood tall once again.
As the Rangers’ last line of defense, Shesterkin has been lights out since returning from an upper-body injury. In seven games since his return, He is 6-0-1 with a .948 save percentage, a 1.39 goals against average and two shutouts, and has given up one goal in his last 10 periods of hockey.
Shesterkin made 33 saves Thursday after facing only 20 shots behind a stout defensive effort in a 5-0 win against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.
Shesterkin’s superb play, combined with the Rangers’ improved commitment on defense, has opened up the game in so many ways in all areas of the ice, leading to the Rangers having the most standings points (19) and most goals scored (43) in the NHL since Jan. 2.
“It’s important, it’s the whole lineup,” center Filip Chytil said. “Every player we need. When the defense supports the offense, it’s very important for us forwards. We can trust them that they have the second wave if we have a chance. If we slow down the game a little bit, we know they are there. They are doing a very good job in the last month.”
With a big win over their Metropolitan Division rival Thursday, the Rangers are now one point out of a wild-card spot in the East. They have another big test coming Sunday, when they host the Colorado Avalanche. The Rangers had the game in their hands against Colorado just 10 days ago until a goal by the Avalanche with 1:13 left in regulation tied the game and the Avs won it in overtime.
They’ll look to their defense once again to provide contributions in all three zones to help them continue their hot streak against one of the better teams in the Western Conference.
“Good defense always leads to good offense,” Schneider said. “We’re playing good defense, and it’s creating for us on the other end too.”
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