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What happened to the Rangers’ power play?

By Steve Paulus

New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) celebrates after a goal . Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photos-USA TODAY Sports
New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) celebrates after a goal . Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photos-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers (R) celebrates his goal at 7:28 of the first period Credit: Bruce Bennett/POOL PHOTOS-USA TODAY Sports
Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers (R) celebrates his goal at 7:28 of the first period Credit: Bruce Bennett/POOL PHOTOS-USA TODAY Sports /

The numbers

First off, let’s say hat it is impossible to accurately gauge ice time for the first unit. They don’t change as a whole so different players are on the ice at different times.  However, we can look at ice time for the the top five players and assume that it mirrors the amount of time allotted to each unit.

This season, the Rangers have had the man advantage for 233 minutes, 49 seconds in 41 games. At least one  member of the top power play unit have been on the ice for 184 minutes and 13 seconds of power play time.  That’s almost 80% of the power play time going to the top unit.    That works out to 1:36 of every 2:00 minutes of man advantage time.  The top unit has scored 26 of 28 power play goals (93%).

How does that compare to last season?

Last season they had the man advantage for 350 minutes and four seconds in 70 games.  At least one member of the top unit was on the ice for 298 minutes and 31 seconds.  That’s 85% of the time or over 1:40 of each power play.  Last year 47 of the 52 power play goals (90%) were scored by the first unit.

A lack of flexibility

The one constant over this season and last has been the power play.  If all of the top five are int he game, they go out as a unit, play 80%  of the man advantage and ten give the second unit less than 30 seconds to try to get set up and score.   Last season the first unit was incredibly effective.  scoring almost once every four times they had the advantage.   When a power play unit is working so efficiently, there is no reason or need to change them out.

This season, with the unit’s efficiency dropping to under 17%, the coaching staff has stuck with the same fivesome. despite their issues.  David Quinn will switch out the forward lines at the drop of a hat, but in a game when the first unit has mustered one shot on goal in two tries, he trots out the same five players when they get the next opportunity.  This despite the fact that in the four games the second unit, in limited time has matched the scoring of the top group.

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