The New York Rangers have had plenty to like through 19 games, but their power play is becoming the sore spot that keeps showing up on the stat sheet.
At 10-8-1, the Rangers have still found a way to stack up some strong work early in the season. Tye Kartye has emerged as a top-six forward, Alex Lafreniere has carried over his success from last year, and Adam Fox is back looking like a Norris Trophy contender.
Even better, the penalty kill has been a real weapon. New York’s 89.66% mark is tied with the Dallas Stars for best in the league, with both teams giving up just six power play goals on 58 chances.
The Rangers have also scored three short-handed goals, tied for second-most in the NHL.
But the other side of special teams has not kept pace.
Against the Edmonton Oilers in their last game, New York went 0-for-5 on the power play, and that dry spell played a major role in a 3-1 loss. Head coach Mike Sullivan pointed straight to the entries as the problem.
“I thought there were moments when we were executing,” Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan said, via Vincent Z. Mercogliano of The Athletic (subscription required).
“I thought the biggest challenge for our power plays tonight were the entries. I thought we lacked some speed.
They did a pretty good job at making the stand at the line, but I think we’ve got to be willing to put pucks behind them when there’s no room on the entry and we don’t have speed.”
The Rangers did create quality looks early. On their first three power plays, they generated several good scoring chances, but Edmonton goalie Devon Levi held firm.
After that, the unit went flat. The fourth opportunity produced no shot attempt at all, and on the fifth, Leon Draisaitl buried a short-handed goal for his second score of the night.
That 0-for-5 performance dropped New York’s season power play rate to 18.87%, which ranks 22nd in the NHL. It’s a steep fall from last season, when the Rangers operated at 24.65%, the fifth-best mark in the league.
Artemi Panarin’s departure to the Los Angeles Kings is clearly part of the story. He was a major force on the man advantage, and replacing that production has not been simple.
The talent is still there, but the rhythm isn’t. And as Sullivan suggested, a little more speed on the entries - maybe even a lineup tweak - could be the next move if this unit is going to start looking like itself again.
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