Success of Rangers' special teams not a surprise to Peter Laviolette
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin skates with the puck during the first period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the New York Rangers, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner) Credit: Tom Brenner
WASHINGTON — Special teams were a big reason why the Rangers won the first three games of their first-round series against the Capitals. Their power play had produced three goals in 12 opportunities (25%) and their penalty kill was ranked fourth among the 16 playoff teams, having killed 13 of 15 power plays (86.7%) and produced two shorthanded goals (both were game-winners) in Games 2 and 3.
But the fact that the Rangers were dominating the series thanks in such large part to their special teams should not have come as a surprise to anyone, according to coach Peter Laviolette. After all, the Rangers had the third-best power play and the third-best penalty kill in the league during the regular season.
“It’s not like we flipped a switch going into the playoffs,’’ Laviolette said Friday after the Rangers’ 3-1 victory in Game 3, in which the Blueshirts scored a power-play goal and killed all six Washington power plays.
Barclay Goodrow’s shorthanded goal turned out to be the game-winner.
“It was pretty good all year. It was pretty good down the stretch. And right now, the guys are doing a pretty good job,’’ Laviolette said.
The penalty kill was especially impressive, because in addition to keeping Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals’ power play in check, it produced two goals in the first three games, the same number as the Capitals’ power play had produced.
“I don’t know if we’re doing anything different,’’ Mika Zibanejad said when asked what made the Rangers so dangerous offensively when they have been a man down.
“I think we’re pressuring, especially when it’s off of rebounds and recoveries and stuff. I think we’re doing a good job of winning those puck battles and getting those opportunities to go.
“And when we get the chance, usually maybe just send it down [to the other end] and you go change. But now we see that we have a chance, and when you get a chance for a two-on-one, you try to take it. And even if you don’t score off the two-on-one . . . I think you kind of take away momentum from their power play and give it our way.’’
Jensen, Sandin return
Washington’s depleted defense corps was without Trevor van Riemsdyk, who suffered an upper-body injury in Game 3 when he was checked into the end boards by Matt Rempe. Rempe was called for interference on the play. Van Riemsdyk left the ice and didn’t return.
The Capitals did get back defensemen Nick Jensen and Rasmus Sandin, both of whom missed the first three games of the series.
Blue notes
Forward Jimmy Vesey was named winner of the Rangers’ John Halligan Memorial Good Guy Award, as voted on by members of the local chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. The award is given to the player who has been exceptional in his willingness to cooperate with the local media . . . The Rangers made no lineup changes in Sunday’s Game 4. They had the same lineup for each of the first four games of the series.
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
