Rookie Chris Kreider’s resurgence has boosted the Rangers who have won 3 of 4 entering tonight’s game versus Carolina.
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

It’s amazing what a couple of wins can do for a team’s confidence. As Hasan can attest with the Devils, winning energizes a struggling club. For the Rangers, returning home has allowed them to settle down. No longer part of Dolan’s traveling circus, they’ve won two of three so far since coming back to a more familiar setting.

So far, they’re 1-1 at Madison Square Garden. Last night, defeating lowly Buffalo 2-0 on the strength of a Derick Brassard power play goal and Chris Kreider’s second in two games. A couple of days after rookie Cam Talbot backstopped the team to an important 3-2 win over the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum, Henrik Lundqvist returned backstopping the team to its second consecutive win. Like the theme from Major League 2, that’s called a “winning streak.” An unfamiliar term until now. They’re up to 5-7-0 and finally around the rest of the struggling Metro. Tonight, the Hurricanes visit MSG. A win against them would mean three in a row. That would be big with the first place Pens visiting Monday.

After a solid start, Carolina has struggled due to injuries with both Cam Ward and Anton Khudobin injured leaving Justin Peters to man the net. With top scorer Jeff Skinner also placed on injured reserve, the Canes have started to feel the affect losing three straight to end October. Eric Staal has eight points but is a team worst minus-10. Jordan Staal has only one goal and three points in 13 games. So far, uniting Marc Staal’s brothers hasn’t panned out. Especially for Jordan, who came over from the Pens last year. He totaled 31 points and was a minus-18 in Year 1. So far, he’s under 50 percent on face-offs. Not exactly what was expected.

In general, the Canes aren’t scoring much. Their 26 are tied with the Devils and Panthers. Only the Sabres, Rangers and Flyers are worse. Our scoring issues have been well documented. At least they seem to be coming around. Benoit Pouliot has scored twice in the last three and Mats Zuccarello has responded since being scratched with a goal and two assists. Kreider’s recent success after starting in Hartford is most encouraging. He’s finally being rewarded for hard work. What’s noticeable is how much better he’s using his size and strength. He’s also playing smart with the goal he scored the other night banked in off Ryan Miller intentionally. Alain Vigneault singled him out as one of their best players since returning.

J.T. Miller also is playing well. While he only has an assist so far, the 20-year old continues to impress with strong overall play. One thing I noticed watching him during Team USA’s gold medal win at last year’s WJC was how aggressive he is. Miller is unafraid and will go to the dirty areas. On Brassard’s power play goal, he screened Miller perfectly. That kind of play is something fans have clamored for. It’s no secret minus Ryan Callahan, who is getting close to returning, they don’t have much net presence. J.T. can provide that. So can Kreider, who’s shown a willingness to go in front. He scored his first on a rebound in the Islander win. If our team is to succeed, becoming harder to play against is a key. By having players drive the net, it improves their chances.

Another positive is Mike Del Zotto. With points in two straight, that should give him confidence. Clearly, he can be an important player with offensive skills that our other defensemen lack. While his D has never been a strong suit, he made a good play on Pouliot’s winner in Long Island. Using the boards to trap an Islander at the blueline, it led to a textbook give and go between Pouliot and Carl Hagelin. Del Zotto must stay active. I’d like to see more shots from him. Seventeen in the team’s first dozen isn’t enough.

As for Hagelin, his return has helped immensely. A similar heart and soul type to Callahan, the gritty Swede never takes off a shift. His speed gives Vigneault another forward who can play the high tempo he covets along with a top penalty killer. Hagelin improves the depth pushing Taylor Pyatt back to the fourth line. I still don’t know what Vigneault sees in him. At least Brandon Mashinter got back in and fought Cody McCormick. He should stay in along with Derek Dorsett over Pyatt.

Ryan McDonagh has also turned it around. Aside from his D returning to the level that’s expected, he has contributed offensively posting three points (1-2-3) over the last four. Not coincidentally, the Rangers won all three in which he hit the score sheet. That included a power play blast against the Isles on a Kreider screen. The power play has shown signs. McDonagh hasn’t been bad on the point sharing duty with Del Zotto. He definitely is more shore handed. A much better option than Dan Girardi. Danny G is back to turning his attention to defense. The right move from Vigneault, who’s kept Marc Staal and Anton Stralman together. An underrated tandem. Del Zotto has stuck with John Moore, whose ice-time has dwindled. That’s okay.

Most notably, the team has gotten back to playing better defensively. They’ve won three of four with the only defeat a 2-0 shutout loss to Montreal in the home opener. In all four, our beloved Blueshirts have allowed two goals or less. In fact, if you include the 2-1 Flyer disappointment, that’s five consecutive games. Returning to D is essential with scoring at a premium. It doesn’t look like we’ll see Rick Nash anytime soon. He wasn’t even at the Garden for intros. With his concussion looking more long-term, that means grinding out lower scoring games. Something they are used to. With Lundqvist returning to form with his 47th career shutout and Talbot proving capable, things are finally looking up.