CALGARY, Alberta — The Rangers’ poor performance within the faceoff circle has been a notorious trait in recent times.
Not only has it been a difficulty by itself, however it has seemingly fed into a number of the team’s other bad habits, corresponding to enduring stretches in games without much puck possession and in turn, prolonged shifts on their heels within the defensive zone.
From 2017-18 to 2022-23, the Rangers had the third-lowest faceoff win percentage within the NHL (47.2), ahead of only the Sabres and Kraken, a team that only entered the league two years ago.
However the Blueshirts are off to an encouraging start on the dots despite Tuesday night’s 39.6 percent showing en path to their 3-1 win over the Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome.
“There’s things that we desired to try to improve on this 12 months coming into it and [faceoffs] was considered one of the things that we talked about,” head coach Peter Laviolette said after morning skate on Tuesday. “After we picked the staff, there was the explanation why we picked certain people and positively Michael Peca has had success within the faceoff circle.
“[He’s] in a position to help players I feel with regard to that and so there’s so much that goes into it, the preparation for a game with faceoffs and figuring out on the ice. Thus far there’s bee early success.”
Peca, who’s 14 years faraway from his 14-year playing profession, has worked day after day with the Rangers’ faceoff takers.
They do rapid-fire drills often, where Peca will drop puck after puck at full speed before changing out players.
The 49-year-old Peca finished with a powerful profession faceoff win percentage of 51.4, and he’s actually had some tricks to lend this Rangers team.
“He’s brought so much, especially on faceoffs,” said Barclay Goodrow, who had only taken 4 faceoffs (50 FOW percentage) entering Tuesday’s game resulting from the addition of Nick Bonino on the fourth line. “I feel early on, you may see those improving. He was a man that I personally love the way in which he played, so simply to find a way to learn from a man like that, it’s great to have.”
After Chris Kreider and Adam Fox donned the A’s on their jerseys through the primary five games, Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad wore the letters Tuesday night.
The Rangers are scheduled to practice Wednesday in Edmonton before they face the Oilers on Thursday night.
