The 2023-24 season may only be just over six weeks old, but the Rangers’ drastic improvement in the faceoff circle is a remarkable occurrence that has evaded the club for years.
Even in their 1-0 win Wednesday night over the Penguins, who own a NHL-leading 55.3 faceoff win percentage this season and have been pretty solid in the dots over the years, the Rangers were right there with them.
While Pittsburgh won 52.5 percent of the draws, the Rangers took 47.5 percent.
Both of the Blueshirts’ top faceoff takers, Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck, won over 50 percent of their draws, with the Swedish center posting a 57.1 faceoff percentage (12 of 21) and the American center winning 52.9 (9 of 17).
Many players have credited assistant Michael Peca for his contributions to the team’s improvement in the circle.
“Actually, it’s all the players,” head coach Peter Laviolette said in response after morning skate on Wednesday. “They’re the ones in the scrums and the centerman in the initial battle. I think we just called attention to it to work on it. The players, they have to have that buy-in. I think the team has to have that buy-in. It’s a possession. Puck’s up for possession. I think that the team in general has helped dictate where the puck’s going.
“I think everybody shares a little bit of that to be where we’re at right now. It’s still something you have to work at all the time because it’s a long season.”
The Rangers’ 54.8 faceoff win percentage this season is good for second in the NHL, behind only Pittsburgh.
The Rangers had an off day as they traveled to Philadelphia, where they had a team Thanksgiving dinner ahead of their matchup with the Flyers on Friday.
Alexis Lafreniere has four goals in the last five games for eight on the season, which is the third-most on the Rangers.
His six goals at five-on-five are second on the team behind Artemi Panarin’s seven.
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