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Rangers seem to have turned corner with Vigneault

Alain Vigneault

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 04: Alain Vigneault head coach of the New York Rangers following a 2-1 defeat by the Anaheim Ducks at Madison Square Garden on November 4, 2013 in New York City.

The New York Rangers had a couple major factors working against them early this season. They started with a brutal nine-game road trip and simultaneously had to adjust to a new system and coaching staff led by Alain Vigneault.

The latter shouldn’t be dismissed as the move from former bench boss John Tortorella to Vigneault involved changing “a little bit of everything,” according to goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.

“It’s important to stay patient, and throughout this process, [the new staff] has been patient, and still confident we can do this and find our game,” Lundqvist told Newsday.

It seems to have paid off as the Rangers have shaken off their bad start and climbed to a 9-8-0 record. That puts them just four points out of first place in the Metropolitan Division going into tonight’s contest against the New Jersey Devils.

Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh thinks Vigneault’s personality is part of the reason they’ve rebounded. The Rangers head coach stayed passionate during the their 3-7-0 start. He has also shown a willingness to stick with slumping players while constantly pushing guys that are doing well.

Of course, the Rangers likely have a lot of ups and downs ahead of them and as long as Rick Nash is sidelined with a concussion, there will be a big hole in their lineup. Still, the fact that the Rangers could quickly dig themselves out of their early hole is a very encouraging sign.

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