The Rangers have enjoyed more continuity in head coach Peter Laviolette’s 109 games at the helm than they had in 320 contests over the four seasons before he came to New York.
Laviolette has not only been intentional with the few lineup changes he’s made that weren’t in response to injuries, but the 59-year-old has also consistently shown restraint when it has come to deciding whether or not to blow up the lines and defense pairings amid poor play.
He has preached working through obstacles, giving players a chance to settle and taking combinations for a legitimate “test drive” before coming to any conclusions.
After his team started off this month sluggish and stale, however, Laviolette made some of the most drastic alterations to the top nine that he’s made since signing the dotted line and becoming the 37th head coach in Rangers history.
While he always cautions against using ink, Laviolette said he plans to ride the new Rangers lineup for a bit.
“The answer is I would like to,” Laviolette said after practice on Wednesday at MSG Training Center. “I think the record always kind of dictates [and comes] into play. If you’re not playing well and the record’s not producing, how long can you stay with something and say, ‘That’s not working?’ When something is working or you are getting results and you think that there’s room for growth, but you’re getting results, you tend to stay with it a little longer.
“I’m not just talking one loss. Trying to show a little bit of patience, but the game’s got to follow, as well.”
So for the third straight day, after debuting in the 2-1 win over the Senators, Mika Zibanejad centered Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere.
Will Cuylle skated on the left of Vincent Trocheck and Reilly Smith, while Chris Kreider lined up on the left of Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko.
The “D” pairs remained as they have been for a majority of Laviolette’s Rangers tenure, with Adam Fox on the right of Ryan Lindgren and K’Andre Miller on the left of Jacob Trouba. Zac Jones and Braden Schneider made up the bottom pairing.
The fact that these new forward lines are considered the most dramatic changes Laviolette has made says something about the veteran coach.
It may be different, but upon closer inspection, it’s not as extreme as it may seem initially.
Rashly reacting to a couple bad performances or a couple bad losses hasn’t been Laviolette’s style since he took over the Rangers.
Asked directly why now was the time to mix it up, Laviolette countered by pointing out that two lines really only experienced one change.
Alterations had to be made despite the 8-2-1 record the Rangers will carry into Thursday night’s game against the Sabres at Madison Square Garden.
If anything, the adjustments also served as a message to this Blueshirts team.
Laviolette doesn’t do it often, but when he does, it has to be for a good reason.
Casey Fitzgerald was named captain of the Hartford Wolf Pack on Wednesday.
As a free agent from the Panthers this offseason, the 27-year-old defenseman signed a two-year, two-way deal with the Rangers in July.
Anton Blidh and Alex Belzile will serve as alternate captains.
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