Rangers have figured out defensive lines puzzle as season inches closer

While there are still decisions to be made regarding the Rangers forward group, their top seven defensemen appear to be set for the start of the 2025-26 season.

The top six was unveiled Saturday afternoon in Boston, where the Blueshirts never quite got to their game in a 4-1 loss to the Bruins to finish the preseason 2-3-1.

Head coach Mike Sullivan deployed what will most likely be the Rangers defense on opening night against the Penguins on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov skated as the top pairing, which has been the expectation since the latter signed a seven-year, $49 million deal with the Rangers as a free agent from Los Angeles this summer.

The second pair featured Carson Soucy and Will Borgen, a duo that has history from their time together in Seattle.

And Braden Schneider lined up in his usual spot on the third pair alongside Urho Vaakanainen, whom he skated with a bit last season.

“Yeah, we’re very comfortable [together],” Borgen said after also skating with Soucy against the Devils. “Played with him in Seattle a little bit. We were good buddies. And, yeah, it’s nice to have him here. Very comfortable playing with him, and nice to have him off the ice here too.”

The Vaakanainen-Schneider pairing was on the ice for Boston’s first goal before the Soucy-Borgen duo saw the second.

After Scott Morrow was sent to AHL Hartford earlier this week, Matthew Robertson officially took the seventh D role. But it wouldn’t be surprising to see Morrow get recalled in wake of an injury.

Igor Shesterkin played the entirety of Saturday’s loss in Boston, stopping 12 of the 15 shots he faced.

Noah Laba scored the lone Rangers goal on the power play in the third period, giving the rookie a total of two goals and four assists this preseason.

Matt Rempe led all skaters with nine hits on Saturday.

After getting released from his professional tryout agreement with the Rangers, defenseman Andrej Sustr signed a PTO with Bridgeport, the AHL affiliate of the Islanders.

The Rangers will head to Rhode Island for some off-ice team bonding on Sunday before hitting the ice for practice at Boss Ice Arena at the University of Rhode Island on Monday.