Peter Laviolette seems to be trying to spark the dreadful Rangers power play.
He tweaked his two power-play units during practice Friday, elevating Alexis Lafrenière to the first power-play unit and demoting Mika Zibanejad to the second power-play line.
The first unit consisted of Vincent Trocheck, Artemi Panarin, Lafrenière, Chris Kreider and Adam Fox while the second unit featured J.T. Miller, Jonny Brodzinski, Zibanejad, Will Cuylle and Zac Jones.
Laviolette wouldn’t commit to the change, but he seems likely to use it Saturday against the Canucks.
“If something’s not working, if it’s not getting results, at some point, you have to look at something different,” Laviolette said. “I think you need to be patient at times, when you put something together, to see how it does. Putting something together for one game and maybe not getting results and changing it the next game, I don’t know what that does. You gotta give something an opportunity.
“But if there’s been extended time and we’re not getting results we want to get, you’ve got to look at something different.”
During the team’s recent skid, in which they’ve gone 2-5-2 and fallen out of a playoff spot, the Rangers have just one power-play goal in 22 opportunities.
“Just a little life in the groups,” Miller said. “Everybody is excited to see some new faces. Sometimes that works, so we’ll see.
“We need to score. It’s not even scoring, just need momentum for the team. Goals are nice. Obviously, you want to be the difference makers. But right now, we’re too stagnant and stopping the flow of the game rather than creating momentum for the team. It happens. It’s unfortunate that it’s right now. We’re trying to get some life into the groups.”
Matt Rempe practiced Friday after missing Thursday’s loss to the Maple Leafs due to an illness.
Igor Shesterkin hunched over in pain for a few seconds after saving a shot from Brodzinski with his stomach during Friday’s practice and subsequently slammed his stick against the boards in frustration.
Anton Blidh was sent back down to Hartford on Friday. He had been recalled Thursday due to Rempe’s absence.
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