Rangers Power Play Faces 'Challenge' Amid Roster Shift

The New York Rangers' power play is operating at a 20 percent success rate, having converted only seven of 35 man-advantage opportunities this season. Head coach Mike Sullivan has consistently described the unit as a work in progress, attributing the struggles to recent personnel changes and a notable shift in the balance of left-handed and right-handed shots.

For the first time in several seasons, the Rangers are deploying three left-handed shots—Pavel Dorofeyev, Alexis Lafrenière, and J.T. Miller—alongside two right-handed shooters, Adam Fox and Mika Zibanejad. This adjustment, according to Miller, is proving more significant than initially anticipated.

"We knew this was going to be a challenge," Miller told The Post. "It seems like a simple thing, but having one more lefty versus righties, it just puts — we’re still shuffling. I mean, if you look, I’ve played pretty much everywhere. We’re trying to find something that’s going to click."

Miller explained that while the team has had periods of sustained offensive zone time, they have struggled to generate consistently dangerous plays. He noted that a lack of confidence can lead to frustration, impacting breakouts and overall execution.

To address these issues, the team dedicated practice time to working on power-play scenarios, emphasizing quick puck movement and decisive playmaking. "You can see the emphasis is ‘move it quickly,’ like, know what you’re going to do before you get on," Miller said. "So that’s something we’ve been working on. Listen, it just takes one or two and you’re going to start to get confident."

While the top unit has scored in two of the last four games, their effectiveness in controlling the puck and maintaining zone pressure has waned. The team has also conceded two short-handed goals this season, a metric where they rank among teams with more such occurrences.

Sullivan acknowledged the inconsistencies. "I think we’ve had moments where it’s looked pretty good," he said. "We’ve had moments where it’s just been disconnected. It’s a continued work in progress. Trying to sort through how we can get these guys on the same page, build more predictability inside of our power-play structure."

He added that the most effective power play performances have come when the players are making good decisions, executing with pace and tempo, and playing instinctively. Conversely, when the unit becomes slow and deliberate, they become easier for opponents to defend. The focus remains on building more predictability within the group to harness the skills of the individual players.