Yeah, it'll be interesting to see how East teams play the Rangers the 2nd time out.
I dont' think it's "surprising" anyone I just think it's honestly a better system than what Tortorella was running last year or so. You just can't be so passive in the defensive zone and give other teams so much time with the puck, it killed so many aspects of the Rangers game. They spent a lot of time without the puck, had a terrible breakout and transition, etc.
I haven't watched many Vancouver games this year but it seems like either the Canucks are used to executing breakouts better in general or Tortorella has loosed things up a tad since the highlights I've seen don't have them looking terrible like the Rangers used to.
I've said it before but I think Tortorella bought his own hype about the Rangers just not being skilled at all and having to play ultra conservative, when he did have defensemen and forwards with the skating and skills to make more plays than they were being asked to make. He wanted a conservative, cautious game that eliminated mistakes but it gave opposing teams so much time with the puck.
I think a more aggressive system that we're seeing with AV (and I'm not even saying this is some super aggressive high powered offense or anything) is a big reason why the Rangers just beat the Pens and looked pretty good. IN years past the Pens have owned the Rangers and it's because every game they'd play, the Rangers would sit back and look tentative and the Pens skill players would have time and space with the puck to do whatever they wanted. Last night the Rangers went after the Pens and pressured them and kept them on their heels and were rewarded for it.
So, I like the result and the play. I think Torts needed to loosen up with the Rangers and let them make more plays because it was hurting the team to play so conservatively