NYR OTT The New York Rangers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/new-york-rangers/rangers-reportedly-fielding-calls-for-kaapo-kakko-blueshirts-all-in]' second line of Artemi Panarin [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/new-york-rangers/new-york-rangers-artemi-panarin-on-nerves-coming-into-this-season-creating-offense-and-playing-with-alexis-lafreniere], Vincent Trocheck [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/news/new-york-rangers-vincent-trocheck-all-star-game-addition-artemi-panarin-alexis-lafreniere], and Alexis Lafreniere [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/new-york-rangers/new-york-rangers-alexis-lafreniere-scoring-artemi-panarin-vincent-trocheck-hhigh-danger-chances] is one of the top lines at five-on-five in the NHL. Panarin and Lafreniere were succeeding with Filip Chytil [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/news/rangers-filip-chytil-out-for-remainder-of-season-after-suffering-setback] at center for the first ten games of the season, but an upper-body injury that has sidelined the 24-year-old pivot since Nov. 2 forced the Rangers to put Vincent Trocheck [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/news/new-york-rangers-vincent-trocheck-all-star-game-addition-artemi-panarin-alexis-lafreniere] into a familiar position. Since then, Trocheck has been named to the 2024 NHL-All-Star Weekend [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/news/new-york-rangers-vincent-trocheck-all-star-game-addition-artemi-panarin-alexis-lafreniere], Lafreniere has produced as a top ten under-twenty-three-year-old skater, and Artemi Panarin is producing tied sixth-best in the NHL in points (29 goals, 34 assists in 47 games). New York is struggling to produce at 5-on-5, with this line doing the heavy lifting for the club this season. This trio has played 40 games together, logging 481 minutes of ice time and leading the Rangers' next-best 5-on-5 goal-scoring line by 11 goals. The Rangers are currently tied for thirteenth in the league with 98 goals at 5-on-5 this season and have given up the fifth most 5-on-5 goals in the league since Jan. 1. They've accounted for 36.2 percent of New York's 5-on-5 goals this season. The Rangers' best trio is tied for third in total five-on-five goals in the NHL (27), first in scoring chances (160), third in goals (27), third in expected goals (50.50), second in scoring chances per sixty (21.05), and second in shots off the rush (144), per NaturalStatrick.com [https://www.naturalstattrick.com/]. An impressive factor for Lafreniere is his limited power-play time and playing on his off-wing. The Rangers are 12-0-0 when he scores a goal. TOP STORIES:
