RALEIGH, N.C. — Alex Wennberg was one of three trade-deadline pickups for the Rangers this season, but the Swedish center was immediately the easiest to identify on the ice.
Equipped with an all-white stick and a tinted black visor, Wennberg had a signature look that was hard to miss throughout his 19 regular-season and four playoff games with the Blueshirts.
To start the second-round series against the Hurricanes, however, the 29-year-old decided it was time to change it up.
“A bunch of people say you don’t really see [the white stick],” Wennberg told The Post Thursday afternoon ahead of Game 3 against the Hurricanes at PNC Arena. “So right now, maybe I got to get my stick involved a little bit more.”
That is what it’s come down to for Wennberg, who had only scored a single goal (against the Jets on March 19) since pulling on a Rangers jersey for the first time on March 9.
His line with Kaapo Kakko and Will Cuylle has been an effective one, especially through the first two games of this Canes series, but the production is lacking.
The unit had only scored one goal since the postseason began, from Kakko in Game 4 of the first-round series against the Capitals.
It had still managed to make an impact with its possession game and strength below the hash marks, but clearly they are looking for more results.
Some players try a different routine or approach, Wennberg switches sticks.
“There’s so many games in a season and I’ve played with a white stick for quite some time right now,” he said. “So I ordered a black stick not too long ago and it showed up and it got me excited.”
Wennberg solidified the Rangers’ elongated threat down the middle, replacing Jonny Brodzinski at the third-line center position.
He finished the regular season with a goal and four assists, while totaling 10 goals and 20 assists through 79 games between New York and Seattle.
In addition to being poised with the puck, Wennberg has fit right into his unit’s tendency to cycle the offensive zone and pin opponents whenever it can.
He’s been defensively responsible, as well, considering the fact his line had yet to be on for a goal against entering Game 3 Thursday night.
“He’s been a really good pickup,” head coach Peter Laviolette said. “Really good addition. Came in and filled a void in that spot. Skates, is on his edges really well, really good with the puck, great vision. Smart, two-way centerman. He’s kind of been as advertised, to me. What we thought we were getting, as advertised. He’s done just a really good job for us.”
As beneficial as the third line’s possession time has been, they definitely need to shoot more.
Since they spend so much time in the offensive zone, the attempts skew in their favor, 44-30, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Many have been blocked, as well, which means they need to pick their lanes better and funnel more puck on net.
Wennberg collected 14 shots on goal through six playoff games, but he’s only played two of those contests with the new stick.
“I feel like our line comes in, we try to hold on to the puck to try to keep the team that we’re playing against in the defensive zone,” Wennberg said. “If we can get a faceoff, get the top guys to go out there and have a chance right there. Obviously, we want to produce a little bit more, but it’s coming. The numbers are good and there’s a lot of good things, so we’re just building on that.”
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