Rangers’ Peter Laviolette Makes Big Changes to Power Play Unit in Search of Spark as They Clash with Canucks
New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette has taken decisive action to shake up the team’s struggling power play ahead of their crucial matchup against the Vancouver Canucks. With the Rangers managing just one goal in their last 22 power-play opportunities, Laviolette made significant adjustments in an effort to reignite their offense.
One of the most notable changes was moving Alexis Lafrenière to the first power-play unit while shifting Mika Zibanejad to the second. The new top unit now features Vincent Trocheck, Artemi Panarin, Lafrenière, Chris Kreider, and Adam Fox, while the second unit consists of J.T. Miller, Jonny Brodzinski, Zibanejad, Will Cuylle, and Zac Jones.
Laviolette acknowledged the urgency of fixing the Rangers’ power-play struggles, which have contributed to a disappointing 2-5-2 record over their last nine games. “We’ve got to find a way to generate more quality chances and put the puck in the net,” Laviolette said after practice.
The Rangers’ power play, once one of the most dangerous in the league, has slumped to a 25th-ranked success rate of just 18.6%. With the team in a tight race for playoff positioning, special teams could be the deciding factor in their postseason fate.
As the Rangers prepare to face the high-flying Canucks, all eyes will be on how these power-play adjustments translate to game action. A strong performance could provide the spark they need to regain momentum and stay in contention as the season nears its final stretch.
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