Breaking down the Rangers strong start & Alexis Lafreniere’s early impact

#Rangers #Newyorkrangers #nyrangers

NY Post Rangers beat writer Mollie Walker breaks down why former No. 1 pick Alexis Lafreniere is off to a good start this season. Mollie discusses the Rangers 2nd line combination of Panarin, Chytil & Lafreniere and why the blueshirts have had so much success in offensive zone possession time.

Lafreniere scored just the fourth power-play goal of his short NHL career in the Rangers’ 3-1 win over the Flames on Tuesday night in Calgary, getting a stick on an Erik Gustafsson shot from the top of the zone for his second tally in as many games.

To put it in perspective how little ice time Lafreniere has seen with the man-advantage: Since his first season in 2020-21, the Quebecois forward still trails one-time Rangers Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko and Andrew Copp in average power-play time per game at a mere 1:17.

Even players such as Tony DeAngelo, Ryan Strome and Pavel Buchnevich, who are all no longer with the team after four-to-five-year tenures with the Rangers, still have higher average ice times with the man-advantage per game than Lafreniere.

Through the Rangers’ first six games, however, Lafreniere has logged the team’s eighth-highest power-play time at 7:18 (1:13 per game).

“Just practices, try to get as many reps as we can,” Lafreniere said of his power-play unit. “Try to move the puck quick and make plays for each other. It was good and it was good to get a goal, too.”

Lafreniere, whose three goals in six games are tied with Artemi Panarin for the second-most on the Rangers, has some jump to his game so far.

There’s a good chance that some of that has stemmed from consistently skating on the right wing of the second line alongside Panarin and Filip Chytil, which has been an offensively inclined unit that has found some early success.

Lafreniere is at his best when his emotion comes through in his play.

Subscribe and don’t miss out on all the key news, highlights, and interviews about the Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets, Knicks, Nets, Rangers, Devils, Islanders and what’s buzzing in the sports world too!

Catch the latest news here: https://nypost.com/sports/
Follow The New York Post Sports on:
Twitter – https://twitter.com/nypostsports
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/nypostsports/