The first home victory of the season for the Rangers on Monday night was a huge turning point beyond just the 6-3 final score over the Predators.
Vincent Trocheck returned from long-term injured reserve after a 14-game absence due to an upper-body injury, which Mike Sullivan emphasized makes them a whole new team.
Trocheck, the “difference-maker,” as the coach called the center after practice Tuesday, causes a ripple effect among the team and brings a balance that Sullivan thinks “is essential to win consistently in this league.”
That effect was evident on the second line on Monday and it looked to start to bring out a vintage form from one of their best — Alexis Lafrenière.
The left wing has been streaky to start this season.
After 17 games ahead of Wednesday night’s road matchup against the Lightning, Lafrenière has three goals and eight assists for a total of 11 points. In 2024 after 17 matchups, the 24-year-old had seven goals and seven assists for 14 points.
Yet, he has taken more shots on goal this season (37), averaging 2.2 per game, than last year (33) for an average of 1.9 through 17 games. Lafrenière also owns the team’s second-worst plus-minus (minus-7) behind Mika Zibanejad (minus-9).
Nevertheless, he came alive under the Madison Square Garden lights against the Predators in arguably his best game of the season, posting three points or more for the fourth time in his career after a goal and two assists.
Lafrenière, who is in his sixth NHL season since the Blueshirts drafted him first overall in 2020, has had a pair of two-point games this season, but not a three-point effort since March 3, 2024 against the Maple Leafs.
The breakout could be down to what Lafrenière agreed was a different rhythm for the Rangers on the ice. Yet, that and his performance can largely be credited to Trochek’s return.
When asked if having the veteran back helped his own game on Monday night, Lafrenière said “obviously, yes” and added “he does everything for us.”
Sullivan believes there is a lot of influence there as well that plays to Lafrenière’s skills.
“[Trocheck’s] always in the right spots, you know, positionally and it’s subtle. So, it probably goes unnoticed to the casual eye,” he said. “If you comb through the game film like we do, there are so many instances where Troch gets a stick on a play, breaks up a play in the neutral zone, that may go unnoticed. What that does for Laf and Bread [Artemi Panarin], it provides them a counter-attack opportunity where they can get the puck with a little bit of separation.
“When they get in those instances, I think it allows Bread and Laf to play to their strengths, which I think is their ability to produce offense and see it and create off the rush when those opportunities present itself. I think Troch brings that element to their line. He’s a very solid defensive center-iceman. … I think the guys on his flanks, Bread and Laf, I think they become the benefactors of that because he creates a lot of counter attack opportunities in all three zones because of how sound his positioning is.”
Lafrenière’s Monday night goal came three days after he netted one against the Red Wings on Nov. 7 that broke a 12-game scoreless streak. For much of the season, one of the top Rangers scorers has done everything but score.
But, Trocheck brought out a different side to him as the two picked up right where they left off. The pair had a 6-2 edge in scoring chances, and were both on the ice for three of the Rangers goals and only had one against during five-on-five play.
If Trocheck can get Lafrenière rolling, it would be a huge boost for the Rangers and Monday was an early sign they cannot ignore.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
