Blake Wheeler finding his groove with Rangers top line
Filip Chytils absence since Nov. 2 turned the Rangers from a three-line scoring team to a two-line scoring team, except that one of these units was not scoring at all.
That would have been the one with Mika Zibanejad in the middle, Chris Kreider on the left and the fellow sent by the temporary employment agency to fill in at right wing on any given day.
Well, maybe not that bad.
Kaapo Kakko spent the first 11 games with the BFFs.
He scored once and the unit scored twice.
That was not enough for the clubs presumptive first unit, so head coach Peter Laviolette flipped Kakko with Blake Wheeler, whod been skating primarily on the third line with Will Cuylle on the left and Vincent Trocheck at center.
Of course, Trocheck moved up to skate between Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere (12 straight without a goal, but whos counting?) after Chytil went down in Game 10.
Nick Bonino became the third-line or alternate checking line center.
Rangers right wing Blake Wheeler (17) skates with the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at Madison Square Garden. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConWheeler spent 11 games with Kreider and Zibanejad.
They did not have the immediate chemistry of, say, the GAG Line.
Laviolette juggled again, moving Wheeler back to the third line while elevating Jonny Brodzinski into a top-role spot. That lasted three games.
Now and again for the last four games entering Tuesdays match against the Maple Leafs in Toronto Wheeler is skating with the big dogs.
This time, it looks like it might stick after taking the unit a while to jell.
I think our line is a bit more connected than maybe we were a little earlier and maybe playing off each other a little bit and playing with confidence, said Wheeler, who scored twice in last Tuesdays 7-3 defeat to the Leafs at the Garden. Confidence is there, were feeling good. Its obviously fun to a team thats going like we are now.
Wheeler attempted to prepare as best he could over the summer by moving to New York early in order to speed the transition process after having played for and in Winnipeg the last 12 years.
Blake Wheeler #17 of the New York Rangers celebrates with Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers and Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers after a goal during the third period against the Devils. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTThere are, however, no short cuts, even if during the offseason, certainly none for a veteran with a family.
Its a lot, for sure, said the 37-year-old Minnesota native, who is married and has three children aged six through 11. You take for granted all the little things that become kind of second nature where youre in a place for as long as we were.
You start piling on things like school for the kids, finding a place to live. You see it happen a lot where a guy has a change of scenery and it doesnt necessarily go smoothly right off the bat. Theres a lot that goes into it.
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We are talking about small sample sizes.
Bad, good and indifferent.
But other than the eye test, small sample sizes are the only ones available.
The trio has kicked it into gear, generating offense both off the rush and the low-zone possession game.
The first time around, the Kreider-Zibanejad-Wheeler unit scored 3.63 goals per 60:00.
This time, the line has gotten 5.78 goals per 60:00.
There are more attempts, more shots, more scoring chances.
When you come to a new situation, youre thinking a little bit more because you want to be in the right place, doing the right things and being responsible with the guys youre playing with, said Wheeler, who has nine points (4-5) in 29 games. Lately its been more second nature.
The good thing is that I think we see the game the same way and were looking at the same thing. For us, the biggest thing for three guys with size and can move well is trying to play in the offensive zone as much as we can, trying to protect pucks and being connected while providing layers of support in the offensive zone.
I think that was missing the first go-round when there were a lot of one-and-done. Were forcing the other team to spend time in the defensive zone. Thats our mindset.
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