All the top teams in the NHL have scoring depth.
When you look at teams such as the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks, etc., they all have three lines that can contribute. When teams have nine forwards that can produce, it usually bodes well for them come April.
The New York Rangers have been lacking this for the last several seasons. Year in and year out, the team has relied on players such as Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Vincent Trocheck, Alexis Lafreniere (at least last season), and defenseman Adam Fox to supply the offense.
While the Blueshirts have gotten away with it for the last few regular seasons, their lack of scoring depth has hurt them when it matters most—the Stanley Cup playoffs. If the Rangers want to change their fortunes this spring, this is going to have to change.
In the team’s 6-0 season-opening win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night, October 9, the Rangers showed that they have the necessary depth to have a lot of success this season. While the solid play of the team’s first two lines on Wednesday night was not a surprise, it was the play of the Rangers’ third line that opened eyes and produced in a big way for their hockey club.
The line, which consisted of Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil, and Will Cuylle, combined for two points, 10 shots on goal, and led the team with 12:25 minutes of ice time. Yes, the two points are not a lot, but they generated several good scoring chances throughout the game and showed a knack for being dangerous in the offensive zone.
Jackie Redmond, an NHL rinkside reporter on TNT, pointed out on Twitter just how well the line was playing with 10 minutes left to go in the game. Here is what they had done at even strength to that point in the game:
- Outchanced the Penguins 12-3
- Had six high-danger chances while the Penguins had two
- Outshot the Penguins 10-3
- Scored one goal and shutout the opponent
The strong play began with Chytil. Coming off an injury-plagued season, there were a lot of reasons to worry about how he would be this season and if he would show any hesitation going into the corners, going hard to the net, and playing an effective game.
Based on the way Chytil played in the first game of the season, those fears had to be lessened for everyone. He scored a goal, had four shots on net, 15:08 minutes of ice time. and he looked like a player on a mission.
Cuylle also had a solid game. He picked up an assist, had a goal waived off, had one shot on goal, helped protect Chytil, and looked comfortable playing between two skilled players.
Kakko, who needs to have a big year for both himself and the team, got off to a great start on Wednesday night. He had five shots on goal, used his size to create chances, drove hard to the net, and much like Cuylle, helped protect Chytil.
This line followed the perfect formula to win a hockey game. They threw pucks on the net, looked for rebounds, fed off each other, and spent a lot of time in the offensive zone.
More importantly, all three players mentioned to reporters after the game that they can play even better. In speaking with Mollie Walker of The New York Post, Cuylle mentioned what they can do to get better.
“Just be better, score goals,” Chytil said of what he wants his line to work on. “We had a lot of chances and we scored only one goal. There’s still room to improve. I think we started to play our game mostly since the second period, so we have to be ready from shift one.”
While it is easier said than done, this line needs to play this way all season long if the Rangers want to make a significant run in the postseason. The Rangers have been top-heavy for the last few seasons, but in the team’s shutout victory on Wednesday night, they showed that they have a line that can help take some of the pressure off of their big guns.
It may have been just one game, but if you are a Rangers fan, there is a lot to like and look forward to when it comes to the potential of the team’s third line this season.
