There was one sea change in the Rangers organization this offseason, and it featured the departure of the exalted Benoit Allaire as the club’s goaltending coach after two decades on the job.
Allaire graduated to a senior position as Director of Goaltending while Hartford goaltending coach Jeff Malcolm, with six years in the organization, was promoted and assumed the Rangers’ day-to-day assignment.
Now it can be said that, literally and figuratively, Malcolm has succeeded Allaire. Or have you not checked the stats?
Despite the departure of the celebrated 62-year-old Allaire, who deserves a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Rangers went into Monday night leading the NHL in save percentage both overall (.929) and at five-on-five (.937). The Blueshirts were second in the league behind the 14-1 Jets — who visit the Garden on Tuesday — in goals against average at 2.31.
