Why the Rangers have reasons for hope despite their clunky start

Now that the Rangers have won a game on home ice, it feels like the team can finally move forward without anything hanging over them.

That’s a first in about a year.

And with Vincent Trocheck back in the lineup, as well as Gabe Perreault joining the fray Monday night, the Blueshirts are — on paper — the most capable they’ve been since the start of the season.

The Rangers have a middling record (8-7-2) 17 games into the season, but there have been some flashes of promise through Mike Sullivan’s first month behind the bench.