Rangers mix up lines before Game 6, hope to extend East 1st Round

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- The New York Rangers had three new line combinations in practice Friday. A few players and coach Gerard Gallant hinted at other changes that could be coming.

So you can't say they're sitting on their hands and waiting for something good to happen after losing three straight games to the New Jersey Devils.
But the Rangers need the changes to work in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Madison Square Garden on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, SN360, TVAS2) or they'll be heading into an early offseason with too many questions to answer.
The Devils lead the best-of-7 series 3-2. The Rangers have scored two goals, none on the power play, in the past three games after scoring 10, including four on the power play, in winning Games 1 and 2.
"Without going into the X's and the O's, I think there are some things we're going to do a little different Saturday]," forward Chris Kreider said after practice Friday.
Forward Patrick Kane said the Rangers went over things that they could do differently, adjustments that weren't only about trying to make life more difficult for Devils goalie Akira Schmid, who has been almost impenetrable with 80 saves on 82 shots in three starts.
"There's more to it," coach Gerard Gallant said. "They're playing a good swarm 'D' zone coverage and they're working hard five guys down low. I think we still pass up too many shots and we still don't get that second and third guy in for second and third chances in our zone. We've got to do more of that. They're playing really well, so they're doing a good job, but we've got to initiate it [Saturday] night."
It appears they'll try to do it with a new look.
Vladimir Tarasenko and Kane swapped spots at right wing on the top two lines, with Tarasenko going up to play with Mika Zibanejad and Kreider, and Kane dropping to the second line with Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere.
Lafreniere was new to the left wing spot on the second line. He switched places with Artemi Panarin, who moved down to the third line and will start the game with Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko.
The fourth line of Jimmy Vesey, Barclay Goodrow and Tyler Motte remained intact.
[RELATED: [Complete Devils vs. Rangers series coverage]
In addition to sparking the team and giving the Devils a different look, Gallant said the line changes were made because he sees some players fitting in better with that setup to go against what the Devils have been so good at doing with their speed and transition game.
The Rangers have not been able to play with the puck low in the zone. They're struggling on breakouts. They're turning it over.
Putting Tarasenko on the top line gives that line two shooting threats (Tarasenko and Zibanejad) and a net-front presence (Kreider), so if they get the puck in the zone they can get it to the net quickly and with at least somebody expected to be there.
Moving Kane down and Lafreniere up to play with Trocheck could help that line control the puck lower in the zone. That's Lafreniere's strong suit and Trocheck can play that style too. Get the puck to Kane lower in the zone and he can make some plays. He hasn't been dangerous.
Chytil and Kakko already are strong behind the goal line and in the corners, but adding Panarin gives them a playmaker too.
"I think we can do a better job of maintaining the puck down low in their end, try to apply some offensive zone shifts and not let them gain confidence and speed off their transition," Kane said.
Gallant also said he'd like to get Tarasenko more ice time. He played 14:25 in Game 5 after getting on the ice for 16:38 in Game 4 and 18:40 in Game 3.
That Tarasenko only played 11:46 in Game 1 and 13:52 in Game 2 didn't matter because he was helping the offense with goals in each game and the Rangers were dominating and just rolling their four lines.
"I'd like to see him play more but I also want guys to take it," Gallant said. "When you get the opportunities, make me play you. I'm not trying to jab at him because he's been good, but I want guys that come out there and say, 'Make me play 18 minutes, make me play 20 minutes.' We had that the first two games, but we haven't done it near as well since."
One way to get Tarasenko on the ice more is to put him on the top power-play unit. That would require moving one of Kane, Kreider, Zibanejad or Panarin off the unit. It could happen.
The Rangers are 0-for-13 with 14 shots on goal on the power play since the third period of Game 3.
"We might," Gallant said. "I'm not telling you, but we talked about it. Maybe we changed it [Thursday] night and we didn't get a PP in the third period. I'm not going to give away our secrets obviously but there's been conversations about different things and different units."
The Rangers are having a lot of conversations as they prepare for Game 6. Maybe the changes work well enough to force a Game 7 in New Jersey on Monday. Or maybe the offseason starts earlier than expected and a lot more changes could be coming.
"At the end of the day, talk is cheap," Kreider said. "You've got to put up in a moment like this. We've got an opportunity in front of us, win one hockey game, that's what we're focusing on."