With each game, the outlook has become more dire for the Rangers’ power play.
The time left to fix everything before a potential playoff has all but dwindled, too, even with head coach Peter Laviolette continuing to tinker with his units.
The Blueshirts enter Saturday’s game against the Devils with just two goals in their last 41 power-play opportunities since March 3 — and just five across their last 60 dating back to Feb. 5.
Their once-infallible strength has become nonexistent, even with the special teams core from past seasons still on the roster.
And when asked about the woeful unit again after practice Friday, Laviolette had a tinge of desperation in his voice.
“We’re at the time of the season right now where definitely those two things — PP and PK — can make a difference in a game,” Laviolette said. “We talk about it all the time. It could be the swing factor.”
When asked if he would consider putting a younger player or Jonny Brodzinski with the veterans on the top unit, Laviolette said that the second unit — which contains Brodzinski — has been the most “effective” of the two and hit the post during the Rangers’ overtime win Tuesday against the Wild.
He wouldn’t divulge, though, if that would mean more ice time for a group that also includes Gabe Perreault, who signed his entry-level deal after Boston College’s season ended and made his NHL debut in the Minnesota game.
Alexis Lafrenière, Chris Kreider and K’Andre Miller also skated on the second power-play unit Friday, with Adam Fox, J.T. Miller, Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck and Brennan Othmann — with the 22-year-old likely just serving as a placeholder for Mika Zibanejad — occupying the spots for the top group during the session.
“I’m just saying that they were the unit that was most noticeable the other night,” Laviolette said of his second unit, while also acknowledging that constant shuffling and changing can “get away from something as well when you start moving it all the time.”
But for now, and until the results start to improve, that likely will continue.
Zibanejad was sick and didn’t practice Friday, with Juuso Parssinen taking his spot as the third line’s center. Laviolette didn’t want to speculate about Zibanejad’s status for Saturday.
“I’d like to think that everybody when they’re not here for a reason, they turn the corner the next day and they feel great,” Laviolette said. “But I can’t say for certain.”
Matt Rempe (upper body) skated in a regular jersey and practiced, but Brett Berard took the first rep with the fourth line during practice alongside Kreider and Sam Carrick.
Rempe hasn’t played since March 25.
When asked if he’d be an option for the Devils game, Laviolette just said he’s “progressing.”
Will Cuylle will have a chance to make Rangers history Saturday if he collects five hits, which would allow him to pass Ryan Callahan (285 in 2009-10) for the franchise’s single-season record.
Cuylle’s 281 ranked second in the NHL entering Friday’s games, and he “hits just about everything he sees,” Laviolette said.
The Rangers sit two points behind the Canadiens — who host the Flyers on Saturday night — for the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot.
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