There wasn't much to focus on through two games of the season, but Reilly Smith's first attempt with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider was natural given the circumstances of the Rangers' RW1 history.

And after the line had some defensive issues and fell behind offensively, the Rangers' 4-1 win over the Red Wings on Monday night at Madison Square Garden was a game in which the trio found their rhythm.

At least that was the case for the audience. For Zibanejad, they're not quite there yet.

“I thought about a few changes, yes (we were in the flow), but we're close,” said Zibanejad, who recorded his first three points of the season in the win – an unanswered goal and two first assists. “I think we’re close to clicking. That's why I can't say yes here. We are working on it. We want this to work just like everyone else. I find it frustrating when we don't connect, but of course we will continue to work on it. We do a good job of sticking to it, holding on to it. We all believe that we will be successful and have a good line. It's right there, but I can't say, “Yeah, that was a game-breaker.”

“There are definitely things we want to continue doing. I like the line. As a player, you obviously want the connection to be established as quickly as possible. It’s a long season so let’s hope we can do it.”

The statistics don't tell the whole story in this case, and they rarely do. In comparison, Kreider, Zibanejad and Smith stood out in this game after the other lines that make up the rest of the top nine dominated the previous two.

Smith scored his first goal as a Ranger in the third period, firing the puck into the net for Zibanejad's faceoff win. Zibanejad then scored an empty-netter, putting the game out of reach.

“This is only the third game of the year. It’s not like it’s Game 12,” head coach Peter Laviolette said. “I really liked that line in Pittsburgh. I thought they played a great game and they were productive tonight. … It's nice to see Riley come out with a goal and a shot like that. Just get production from different people, so it was them tonight.”

The Rangers' top power play unit is back together for another season – and so is Kreider in net.

On the Rangers' fourth power play of the second half, Kreider broke a 1-1 tie, giving the team a 2-11 mark in its first three games.

It wasn't the most dominant start to the season, but it only took 8 seconds for that particular man advantage to be exploited.

Zibanejad fired a sharp shot that Kreider redirected for his third goal in as many games without even having to move his stick. The first assist counted as Zibanejad's first point of the season.

When the Rangers came into the game looking to strengthen their defense, they largely did so – save for the end of the first period and the attacks in the second period. Goaltender Igor Shesterkin's 31 saves certainly helped, too.

After Alexis Lafreniere scored his second goal of the season – his fourth point in three games – the Blueshirts fell asleep in the final seconds of the first frame and allowed Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin to tie the score at 1-1 with 1.1 seconds left Clock.

“I just didn’t think we played our game (in the second period). I thought we were a little too casual,” Laviolette said of his team’s defensive efforts. “I thought the first third was better and the third was good too. Again, it’s still early and we’re continuing to work on these things and try to get better at them.”