Examining the New York Rangers numbers

Advantage Margin: +6
Tom Renney’s words about discipline must have finally gotten through. The Rangers’ advantage margin improved by 52 from 2005-06. The improvement came because they allowed 86 fewer power plays than they did the season before.

Even-Strength Goals Margin: +7
One reason the Rangers floundered for much of the season before making the playoffs with a late run was their struggles at even strength — they fell from plus-40 in 2005-06. Jaromir Jagr went from 30 even-strength goals to 23.

Special Teams Goal Margin: +15
While their even-strength play fell off, the special teams improved. Shanahan’s 15 PPGs helped a lot, as did 11 shorthanded goals from the penalty killers, up a hefty margin from the four tallied in 2005-06.

Goals by defensemen: 29
The quest for Brian Leetch’s successor continues. Michal Rozsival had 10 goals, seven on the power, play, but the Rangers haven’t had a major offensive threat on the blue line since No. 2 was dealt to Toronto in March, 2004.

Goals by forwards: 211
Jagr dropped from 54 goals to 30, but it was still good enough for the team lead. He’s losing his regular center, Michael Nylander (26 goals, 83 points) but will likely play with Scott Gomez, one of the two big-ticket centers (along with Chris Drury) the Rangers added in the off-season via free agency. Jagr and Shanahan (29 goals) both reached the 600-goal plateau last season.

Overtime Record: 12-5-5 (OT: 3-5, SO: 9-5)
Henrik Lundqvist has established himself as one of the best at shootouts, stopping 41 of 50 shots while posting an 8-4 record. He’s won the two longest shootouts in NHL history, including last season’s 1-0, 13-round marathon at Philadelphia.

Times Scored First/Record: 45 (Record: 30-10-5)
The Rangers did a good job of getting the lead and were very consistent in keeping it. They had a .667 winning percentage -- both at home and on the road.

Best 06-07 Number:.937
Lundqvist’s save percentage in the 28 games in which he faced 30 or more shots, the best of any goalie who had 15 or more 30-shot games. He allowed only 60 goals in those games, facing 957 shots.

Worst 06-07 Number: 11-19
The Rangers’ record in one-goal games that weren’t decided in shootouts, which ranks among the worst in the league. However, it’s actually an improvement on the 7-22 record they posted in non-shootout, one-goal games in 2005-06.

Scheduling:
The Rangers get a six-game homestand in late October and early November before playing six of seven on the road. They do not have a road trip longer than four games and have the scheduling oddity of playing the Atlanta Thrashers in back-to-back home games right before the All-Star break.