What happened to the Rangers’ power play?
By Steve Paulus
When the New York Rangers power play works, it is a thing of beauty and a difference maker. Case in point, the 8-4 win over the Penguins. The power play went three for three and was key to the win over Pittsburgh. The first unit scored the first two goals by Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome while Kaapo Kakko chipped in with the third power play goal.
When it doesn’t work it’s a big problem. The overtime loss to the Islanders on Sunday was a great example of lost opportunities. They Blueshirts had three power plays, but didn’t score and had all of two shots on goal in six minutes.
Last year to this year
What a difference a year makes. Last season the Rangers were one of the best power play teams in the league. They were seventh in the entire NHL with a 22.9% success rate. They scored 52 power play goals, the fourth most in the league. They had 13 games with two or more power play goals.
This season, it’s been a different story. They are 20th in the NHL with a 19.4% success rate. They are 10th overall with 28 power play goals. They’ve scored two or more power play goals in a game five times.
That 19.4% success rate is deceiving. It’s inflated by two consecutive games against Buffalo and Philadelphia when the Rangers scored five power play goals in eight tries. Take those two games out of the mix and the success rate drops to 16.9% and that would rank 26th in the NHL.
If you look at the statistics there is one glaring reason why the Kaapo Kakko goal last week was unique. As of that game it was the ONLY power play goal scored by the Rangers this year without Adam Fox, Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider, Ryan Strome or Mika Zibanejad on the ice. Colin Blackwell added another tally for the second unit in the next game meaning that in 41 games, the second unit has scored just twice.
This is nothing new. Last year was the same story except with Tony DeAngelo replacing Adam Fox. The power play was a one trick pony, totally reliant on the first unit to get the job done. The difference is that this year they are not getting the job done.