The shorthanded Rangers returned home for three straight games this past week. While each game was not a masterpiece, New York notched victories in all three contests, extending their overall point streak to 10 games. The Blueshirts are 9-0-1 in that stretch, the only loss coming 5-4 in a shootout to Minnesota on November 4.
If there was one takeaway from the week that, beyond Artemi Panarin remaining on his ridiculous heater, was Alexis Lafrenière getting his groove on. The movement of Lafrenière to the second line with Panarin has served as a boon to his game and the Rangers. Since he was drafted, Lafrenière had not yet lived up to the hype of being the first overall pick in 2020. The term bust and name Nail Yakupov were thrown around in relation to Lafreniere.
Ignored was the production Lafrenière posted 5×5 and the fact that he saw minimal power play time. Lafrenière has thrived next to Panarin, first with Filip Chytil, and especially lately with Vincent Trocheck. Points in four straight and seven goals plus four helpers in 14 games are the noticeable pieces of the equation. Less evident to the casual fan are the reasons for the points. Lafrenière is driving to the net, engaged on the walls, using his physicality to create space and chances, and adapting to right wing, Each of those aspects has taken his game to the next level.
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Panarin is in early Hart Trophy contention with 24 points in 14 games, putting last year’s playoff struggles somewhat in the rear window. He has scored in all 14 games this year, tying Rod Gilbert (1972-73) for the longest streak to begin a season in team history. Panarin’s play has been a major catalyst for the hot start, though he is not alone.
New York has not missed a beat despite the recent absence of Chytil, Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin. Chris Kreider continues to quietly, and not so quietly, rack up goals. He already has 10 in 14 games and sits just 25 shy of 300 in his career. Blake Wheeler, after a brutal start, has been mildly better lately. Erik Gustafsson has ably stepped in for Fox and been the free agent bargain of the offseason. Jonathan Quick has everyone forgetting his poor preseason with his solid play in net. The remainder of the lineup, even with Mika Zibanejad failing to find his stride and Kaapo Kakko struggling, have picked up the slack, including the fine play of rookie Will Cuylle.
It’s early, but the signs are bright on Broadway for the Blueshirts.