The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: New York Rangers Power Play

The New York Rangers’ power play this season has shown us a full circle going from bad to worse to good/awesome/great, then back to bad to plain out ugly.  Just when you think the PP has been rejuvenated, it tanks quicker than the Titanic.  I’ve never been part of a fan base where we cringe when our team is up a man. Most fans of other teams would enjoy that. So, where did it go wrong?

The Good:
I know, it’s kind of laughable to use ‘good’ and ‘power play’ on the same page, but let’s give it a shot.

• The power play has produced, at times. So that’s got to be something good, eh? I mean, it could be worse.
• The Rangers are 15th in the NHL for PP opportunities with 201 opportunities. They have the opportunities, they obviously can draw penalties thanks to the like of Gaborik and Hagelin and their ungodly speed. The opportunities are there. (For reference, last season 2010-2011, the Rangers were also 15th in the NHL for PP opportunities with 290).

The Bad:
When the power play is bad, it’s bad. I thought, like some Rangers fans, that the PP was on its way to being decent and somewhat consistent. But those Rangers had me duped.

• While they have had 201 opportunities, they have only capitalized 28 times. 28! It’s a laughable 13.9%.
• As much as I like Richards, his play on the PP is shotty at best.
• One would think that having a PP unit of Callahan-Stepan-Gaborik and MDZ-Richards would be a no – brainer for a goal. But maybe there’s TOO much talent on the ice at once?
• Mitchell on the PP. I’m still not sold on this one.  While Mitchell is one of the talented younger guys, his play on the PP hasn’t been too impressive.

The Ugly:
And when the PP sucks… it sucks big time.

• The Rangers PP has been consistent. Consistently sub-par. I don’t recall ever not wanting the Rangers to go on the PP like I do now. You almost want them to play shorthanded, if they’re going to use a specialty team. At least with the PK, they sit 4th in the league AND it’s effective.
• The Rangers have 28 PPG. Last season, the Rangers ended with 49 PPG. They’re just a tad over half of that with 24 games left in the season. They could get to 49 PPG, if they score a PPG in each remaining game.  But given the lack of consistency, I highly doubt that will happen.
• No matter the line combinations, the Rangers can not get the PP going. We’ve seen all sorts of changes that have not worked, then worked, then didn’t work.  Short of trading up to enhance the PP, I’m not sure what the Rangers could do.

While many fans scoff at the PP, it’s a real concern if the Rangers expect to make it to the playoffs and advance each round.  Games are harder and tighter in the post season. Having all cylinders going is essential to a Stanley Cup contender. And right now, Houston, we have a problem.