The Rangers’ line of Alexis Lafreniere, Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panarin has been one of the most well-rounded forces in the league this season.
The line has been consistent since its inception, backing the team with strong 5-on-5 zone penetration, heavy puck pressure and timely goals, and was a driving force in Friday’s 2-1 overtime win over Florida in Game 2.
After a string of bad luck that led to Lafreniere’s own goal in Game 1, the 22-year-old former No. 1 overall pick fought back with veteran tenacity. Lafreniere hit Carter Verhaeghe to give the Rangers their first points of the series in the opening minutes.
Lafreniere is, in some ways, the unsung hero of a trio that has logged more ice time than any other line in the NHL this season. It’s tough to replace the acumen of Panarin and Trocheck, but Lafreniere not only blossomed offensively in his first 20-plus goal season, he’s also become a reliable two-way forward.
After five straight points, Lafreniere has zero points on the stat sheet since then, but he is tied with Chris Kreider for fourth in playoff points with 10. He’s shooting 13.3 percent from the field on 2.5 shots per game, which is a promising sign, and he’s third in expected goals with 3.7 in a balanced Rangers lineup.
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Florida’s aggressive play paid off in Game 2, and that aggressive play is sure to continue, opening up opportunities for Lafreniere on the second power-play unit, who has used numbers advantages to score three points all postseason.
In a tight, gritty and dogged series, it’s hard to target value on a player’s prop, but Lafreniere’s support role in key moments makes him a player to rely on.
play: Alexis Lafreniere over 0.5 points (+105 BetMGM)
