The hidden defensive problem the Rangers must fix

It’s clear Alain Vigneault wants offense from his defensemen, but one thing that might get lost in that demand from the Rangers coach is he also desperately needs defense from his forwards.

Looking back on Thursday night’s 4-2 loss to the Islanders in Brooklyn, it was easy to pin a couple of defensive lapses on the blueliners. In the midst of a very difficult night for Marc Staal, he was singled out because Islanders diminutive forward Stephen Gionta pushed him off a puck and then found Andrew Ladd alone in front for an easy goal to put the Islanders up, 2-1, early in the second period.

But how was Ladd so open? The Rangers were changing, but neither Mika Zibanejad, Mats Zuccarello or Chris…