The Rangers’ power play has fallen into a rut, so head coach Peter Laviolette has made some major personnel changes to refresh the team.
Laviolette will try to take a more balanced approach to the two power play groups, given the fact that this season’s mostly intact top unit has slumped to 0-of-14 over the last six games. Selected.
One unit stars Adam Fox, Blake Wheeler, Chris Kreider, Johnny Brodzinski, and Mika Zibanejad, while the other unit stars Erik Gustafsson, Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, and It consisted of Alexis Lafreniere and Capo Kakko.
Brodzinski did well in the first group, while Trocheck took the lead in the second group.
“Obviously it’s not where it was at the beginning of the year,” Laviolette said of the reasons behind the change. “We understand we have to play outside, but we have to try to get the puck to the net, get more pucks to the net, find more traffic and more action at the net. There is. You can do that by moving it, but you also need to attack from downhill. That’s just what I wanted to see today.”
Even though the Rangers’ power play is not performing at the level it was at the start of the season, the club still ranks fifth in the NHL with a power play percentage of 26.1.
They trail only the Oilers (26.4), Maple Leafs (26.6), Hurricanes (27.7) and Lightning (30.7).
After going 0-for-3 in the Rangers’ 4-3 overtime win over the Blackhawks on Friday, manager Zibanejad said they’re thinking too much about the man advantage right now and it’s taking it too far. He said that this was leading to excessive compensation for the difficult times.
Laviolette said if they decide to bring in a new unit for the next game, the two groups will push each other.
“I think we’re just looking for balance within the position,” Laviolette said of using the Zibanejad and Trocheck lines on separate units. “That’s how it worked out. But we’re looking for balance within the position in terms of what we’re trying to do. Trying to get the hand the way you want it. Or , maybe there are some things in their line that you see and think, “Hmm.” , when they do this, many chemical reactions occur. Perhaps that could affect the power play as well. ”
Tyler Pitlick skated as an extra during Sunday’s practice, suggesting the 32-year-old forward could be a healthy scratch when the Flames come to the Garden on Monday. Adam Edstrom skated in his place at right wing in the fourth row next to Jimmy Vesey and Barclay Goodrow.
