The Rangers are at their best when they move through the neutral zone with purpose on both sides of the puck.
With how many strong puck handlers they have, it should be an area of the ice the Blueshirts can take advantage of.
Instead, it’s been an area of the ice the Rangers have struggled to control, which has only exacerbated their defensive miscues and poor decision-making.
“I think our neutral zone [play] needs to tighten up,” K’Andre Miller told The Post after practice on Monday at MSG Training Center. “I think we’re turning the puck over a little bit too much, trying to make too many east-west plays through the neutral zone. Those are eventually going to cost us. Obviously, seen it a number of times throughout the 11 games to start the season, how many times the puck isn’t clean through the neutral zone and next thing you know it’s coming right back at you.
“I think just playing smart, not trying to do too much through the neutral zone — just simple and predictable.”
Peter Laviolette pointed to two plays in particular — when the Rangers got caught standing at the blue line and on another with an Islander coming out of the penalty box — from Sunday’s 5-2 win.
The Rangers head coach described it as breakdowns that stemmed more from the offensive zone.
He did note, however, that most of the team’s troubles are coming from puck decisions that they’re making as they enter the neutral zone or from not having numbers back following their offensive zone play.
Victor Mancini was the odd man out again during practice on Monday, indicating that the 22-year-old defenseman may not play against the Sabres at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.
It would mark the second straight game that Mancini served as a healthy scratch for the Rangers.
Entering Monday’s slate of games, the Rangers penalty kill was ranked No. 1 in the entire NHL at 92.3 percent.
Their three power-play goals against is tied with the Predators for the lowest amount in the league.
The Rangers will have the day off on Tuesday before they return to practice in Tarrytown on Wednesday.
After facing Buffalo at the Garden on Thursday, the Blueshirts will head to Detroit for a game against the Red Wings on Saturday at Little Caesars Arena.
