Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information.

We’ve passed the 10-game mark and that’s usually an appropriate point to begin evaluating an NHL team for what they are.

With the Rangers, there’s a bit of a wrinkle.

Off the heels of a lifeless 5-1 loss to the Flames, the Blueshirts snapped a three-game losing spree with an uninspiring performance against a humdrum Canucks team. 

Of course, the Rangers have been without their key two-way center in Vincent Trocheck, for the last nine games. Even without him, optimistic folks will still point to the fact that the Rangers’ offense is getting looks, just not finishing. 

In spite of being 4-5-2, the Rangers are No. 2 overall in expected goals rate and No. 8 at shot attempt differential at 5-on-5 per MoneyPuck.

They cap off their track through Western Canada on Thursday with a rematch against the Oilers two weeks after getting shutout by them at MSG. That was amid their three-game goal drought at home to start the season.

Although the puck luck wasn’t — and still isn’t — there, the Rangers were the better hockey team in that game. In all situations per Natural Stat Trick, they generated 14 high danger scoring chances to Edmonton’s three and projected 3.42 xGF to 2.02 despite losing 2-0. By the third period, they commanded possession at 5-on-5. 

What separates these teams most is the power play units. The Rangers have scored four times with the man advantage on 28 opportunities — good for No. 30 overall. 

Edmonton’s power play is the most consistent element in its game right now. It’s converting at a 30 percent rate as the fourth-most efficient unit in the NHL. 

That’s almost expected with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Evan Bouchard clicking after back-to-back trips to the Final. Those four account for eight of the club’s nine power-play scores. 

What’s also been par for the course through the Oilers’ first 11 games is the hot-and-cold goaltending. Stuart Skinner can steal a game one night and give one back the next. Calvin Pickard has been less reliable in four starts, ranking among hockey’s worst in GSAx. 

What’s strange is the Oilers don’t allow an extraordinarily high rate of high-danger chances or turn the puck over in their own end frequently. Odd-man rushes and net-front traffic have led directly to goals on both netminders. 

The net-net of it all is a team save percentage that’s .870. 

The Rangers wield the skill to generate chances and have demonstrated structure to take advantage of this. 

“We can have the ability to create offense through our defense,” Mike Sullivan said. “I still think there’s another level to our offensive game. I think we’ve generated, as I’ve said, we’ve generated a number of scoring chances. It’s not that we’re not getting looks. We had a number of looks last night again.” 

Numbers say positive regression is on the horizon, and with a line this low, there’s worth in trusting that prophecy. 

THE PLAY: Over 5.5 (-122, FanDuel)

Sean Treppedi handicaps the NFL, NHL, MLB and college football for the New York Post. He primarily focuses on picks that reflect market value while tracking trends to mitigate risk.