Rangers’ hot shooting continues despite losses to Devils, Blue Jackets
Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images The New York Rangers were due for a PDO bender after starting the season as one of the NHL’s worst goal-scoring teams. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until the Rangers were effectively eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention and had traded their best offensive player Artemi Panarin , that their improved shooting touch finally appeared. But the Rangers’ recent hot shooting continued, despite the fact they dropped their third straight game, this one on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
It was their second 6-3 loss in as many nights; they fell 6-3 at home to the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday. Rangers shooting lights out since Olympic break Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images The Rangers struggle to score goals at Madison Square Garden — they are last in home goals (71) and goals per game (2. 22), and seven their 17 losses were shutouts.
But they’re ninth in the NHL in road goals per game with 3. 30 and reached the three-goal threshold in their fifth straight road game. The Rangers’ offense has been potent and efficient especially since the post-Olympic restart.
They are third in the NHL in PDO (1. 049) — which measures the sum of a team’s shooting percentage and save percentage — a consequence of Igor Shesterkin ‘s return from injury and their league-leading 15. 6 percentage in their 12 post-Olympic games.
The Rangers are 6-4-2 in those 12 games despite their 28th-ranked expected-goals percentage (44. 1 percent, per Natural Stat Trick). Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images Tye Kartye , who has a 10.