Mika Zibanejad has been moved to the second power-play unit for the New York Rangers, a rare personnel change amidst the team's struggles. The struggling power play has been a significant issue for the Rangers, failing to score in their last 20 opportunities.
SUNRISE, Fla. — Head coach Peter Laviolette has experimented with taking a struggling Mika Zibanejad off the first power-play unit mid-game before, most recently during During a fast-paced practice on Sunday, however, Zibanejad was demoted to the second unit in a rare personnel change. Asked if he was disappointed to be taken out of a spot he’s occupied for a majority of his nine-year tenure in New York, the Swedish center was frank.
‘I don’t think there’s time for that right now,’ he said after the Rangers wrapped up practice, ahead of their matchup with the Panthers on Monday night. ‘This has nothing to do with me personally or something that I’m going to make about myself. We’re not in a place in our season to feel sorry for yourself or to be like that. It’s a different opportunity, it’s another opportunity for that unit with coming up — and deservedly so.The Blueshirts power play has been a shell of itself, much like the rest of the team’s game. Not only have they not scored once in their past 20 man-advantage opportunities over the past seven games, but their 17.9 power-play percentage was ranked 22nd in the NHL entering Sunday night’s slate of games. Since Nov. 14, just before the 2-2 road trip out west that prompted president and general manager Chris Drury’s league-wide trade memo, the Rangers power play is 6-for-53 with a staggering four shorthanded goals against.Rangers come out of holiday break flat and suffer ugly loss to LightningOnly seven teams have had fewer power-play chances than the Rangers’ 95, which is a testament to how little the team has had the puck during this abysmal 4-14 stretch. Laviolette has finally taken action and swapped Zibanejad with Lafreniere, who joins Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin, Adam Fox and Vincent Trocheck to make up the Rangers’ top power-play unit.Mika Zibanejad, pictured Dec. 17 during the Rangers’ game against the Predators, and the rest of the Rangers’ power play has struggled recentl
RANGERS POWER PLAY MIKA ZIBANEJAD NHL HEAD COACH
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