When the New York Rangers visit the Detroit Red Wings later tonight, they’ll bring an 8-3-1 record into the match. For the most part, there isn’t much to complain about. They’ve banked 17 of a possible 24 points through the first dozen games. However, it hasn’t been all positive.

In the 6-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 7, the defense struggled mightily. Combined with substandard goaltending from the normally unflappable Igor Shesterkin (5 GA on 12 shots) and it was a predictable result. With Kevin Weekes tweaking followers on Twitter with an $11.5 million question mark in a post, fans wondered if a new deal was imminent. It doesn’t appear so. Instead, Shesterkin gave up a bad goal to Rasmus Dahlin 26 seconds in on Thursday night. He also couldn’t stop Dylan Cozens’ shot from distance in the second period.

While it was his worst performance of the season, he didn’t get much help from his defense. A much-maligned blue line that’s been underperforming.

K’Andre Miller tops the list. For a player who’s trusted by the coaching staff to play important minutes at five-on-five, he hasn’t gotten off to a good start. There’s been too many instances when he’s made the wrong decision. Whether it’s making an overaggressive pinch that causes an odd man rush or taken the wrong route defensively, he hasn’t performed up to expectations.

Despite positive metrics that include a 54.46 Corsi rating, Miller has been on for nine goals against at five-on-five. The Rangers have scored seven goals at five-on-five with him on. A fifth-year player, the 24-year-old from Saint Paul, Minnesota is playing for a new contract. He’s earning $4.65 million on the final year of a bridge deal. His current cap hit is $3.87 million. He’ll turn 25 in January.

When they started the season without Ryan Lindgren, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette decided to try Miller on the top pair with Adam Fox. They produced mixed results. Miller and Fox spent more time in the offensive zone, which was a plus. But there were also some mix-ups in coverage that led to opponents scoring goals. While you could make the argument that they’ve created more offense together, neither has played up to expectations.

Fox has been a little better. According to Natural Stat Trick, he’s been on for 10 goals for and 8 goals against at five-on-five. Similar to Miller, he’s made some mistakes defensively. He’s looked a half-step behind compared to last season. With nine assists in 12 games, he’s still the Rangers’ best offensive defenseman. However, five of the nine apples have come on the power play. That means Fox has only produced four points at even strength. That won’t get it done. He must be better in that area.

Laviolette went back to the old pairs when the Rangers defeated the New York Islanders 5-2 on Nov. 3. Lindgren was back with Fox and Miller was reunited with Jacob Trouba. In that game, Lindgren and Fox were on for one goal for and one goal against with a negative CF rating. They gave up three more shots against and three high danger chances. They also generated three high danger chances for.

Miller and Trouba struggled. They allowed one goal against and were pinned in their end. Miller had a 33.33 CF and Trouba had a 32.35 CF. The only pair who held their own was Zac Jones and Braden Schneider. They were on for one goal for and each were right around 50.0 CF. Long story short, Shesterkin bailed the Blueshirts out by making 35 saves.

Unlike the previous two games, including a lopsided 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators on Nov.1, the one against the Sabres was a bit different. The Rangers only gave up three high danger chances and played on even terms through two periods despite trailing 5-0. Shesterkin had a bad game. There also were defensive breakdowns. Especially in the Sabres’ four-goal second period that all but sealed the victory.

Both Fox and Lindgren were effective at five-on-five, finishing with CF ratings better than 70 percent. However, they were on for two Sabres’ goals. The first came when Dahlin beat Shesterkin with an unscreened wrist shot five-hole. Neither was at fault. The second came when Lindgren lost a battle in the corner, with Jason Zucker finding Jordan Greenway for a tap-in that made it 4-0. That was mostly on Lindgren, who looked slow. Fox was late to Greenway.

It was a rough game for Miller and Trouba. Despite only being outshot 8-6 while together, they each finished a minus-three. On Cozens’ goal that made it 2-0, Miller failed to win a board battle. He then lost his stick, which led to Zach Benson feeding Cozens for a shot from the left circle that went high glove on Shesterkin. Mika Zibanejad didn’t provide any help either. He stood and watched instead of switching back onto Cozens.

On the next goal scored by Tage Thompson, that was a simple case of Reilly Smith not marking Thompson. It was a play in transition with both Miller and Trouba back in coverage. Smith was a step behind. That allowed J.J. Peterka to pass the puck over for Thompson for a blast upstairs that made it 3-0.

Following Greenway’s tally, Sam Lafferty finished off a Beck Malenstyn dish across to make it 5-0. The real issue started in the neutral zone. Rookie Adam Edstrom was beaten badly by Peyton Krebs to create an odd man rush. Krebs then fed Malenstyn, who had a two-on-one down low. A sliding Trouba took himself out of the play, leading to Malenstyn’s pass for Lafferty, who patiently tucked a backhand in to chase Shesterkin from the game.

It’s these types of glaring mistakes that the Rangers must cut down on. They’ve won eight games mostly due to the brilliant play of Shesterkin. Jonathan Quick has also performed well by winning two games. He’s stopped 70 of 74 shots. That’s too many allowed. In Shesterkin’s 10 starts, the Rangers are giving up 31.1 shots per game. They need to tighten up defensively.

When Laviolette’s heaping praise on Jones and Schneider on an off day, that speaks volumes. He isn’t getting enough consistency from his top defensemen. It’s also worth noting that when Trouba was paired with Schneider at the beginning of the season, they were better together. Schneider proved that he could effectively play his off side. He deserves a top four role.

While most critics believe it should be at the expense of Trouba, I’m not one of them. I think Miller’s been the worst defenseman. With only a goal and assist with a disappointing -1 rating, he hasn’t played up to capability. You can cite any metrics you want. It is lazy. Watch each shift. Miller dragged Fox down when they were together. It didn’t take long for Trouba to revert once Laviolette put Miller back on the second pair. Miller has been the common denominator. If he struggles again tonight, he deserves a seat in the press box.

In seven games so far, Lindgren has had issues. There’s no question he’s still trying to find his timing. He isn’t the best skater. He’s known for winning battles due to his grit and physicality. He usually makes smart pinches to keep plays alive. It’s the lack of footspeed that’s a growing concern. We saw him get beaten badly by Zucker in the corner for a goal on Thursday night. That can’t happen.

Nobody will ever question Lindgren’s battle level. He always brings it. No. 55 is similar to a popular former No. 5. Dan Girardi played the same taxing style. Eventually, he wore down. Belligerent fans targeted him. He was unfairly blamed for the Rangers losing to the Los Angeles Kings for the Stanley Cup in 2014. All they see is that giveaway in overtime which led to Justin Williams’ Game 1 winner. It doesn’t work that way. That was a very winnable series. Former coach Alain Vigneault chose to sit back in the third periods of both Games 1 and 2. It proved costly.

I don’t want to see Lindgren get the same irrational hate that Girardi received. It’s approaching that level. He’s on a one-year deal that pays him $4.5 million. It remains uncertain what his future is. Lindgren can become an unrestricted free agent next summer. If he continues to struggle, then he probably won’t be back. The guy is a warrior. That deserves respect. The Rangers don’t make two Conference Finals without him.

Mancini To Sit Out Again

Victor Mancini is expected to sit out a third consecutive game. He’s been a nice story. With a goal and three assists in nine games, the 22-year-old defenseman has proven that he has a bright future. If he isn’t going to play, it would be wise if the organization sent him down to the Hartford Wolf Pack. But who would come up? Matthew Robertson is off to a good start. Do they consider it or wait? We’ll see.