The Rangers will catch their breath this week after being dealt the most difficult hand possible just three weeks ago. 

Losing star goalie Igor Shesterkin to a season-ending knee injury shortly after backup netminder Joonas Korpisalo contracted a foot infection is the kind of misfortune that directly influences a team’s trajectory, expectations and process. 

The difference in the Blueshirts’ first eight games compared to their last six, however, cannot be boiled down to just goaltending. 

It would be a disservice to rookie goalie Dylan Garand to say that when the Rangers in front of him simply have revealed their duality as a team as soon as circumstances were heightened.