MONTREAL — Defense has been the highlight in the Rangers’ game through the first six contests of the season, but it’s safe to say their top pairing hasn’t come close to reaching its full potential. 

Adam Fox is off to a strong start on both sides of the puck, looking as cerebral as ever at the top of the Blueshirts’ No. 1 power play and consistently active in the defensive end. It has the 27-year-old defenseman leading the team in points with three goals, one game-winner, and an assist. 

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Head coach Mike Sullivan has accurately classified Fox’s chemistry with Vladislav Gavrikov as a work in progress. The two appear to still be in a feeling-out process, which is understandable when you consider Fox largely skated with the same defensive partner — since-traded Ryan Lindgren — in the previous six seasons and Gavrikov is settling into a new team after three seasons with the Kings. 

Asked about his evaluation of his individual game so far, Gavrikov was blunt.