Lafreniere, Kakko get off to fast start for Rangers 

BUFFALO -- Alexis Lafrenière wore a smile on his face and a floppy black hat on his head.

The chapeau, called the Broadway Hat, is the reward for being the New York Rangers' player of the game, something he rarely earned last season.

The grin was courtesy of a 5-1 victory against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Thursday, a victory spurred by Lafreniere scoring New York's first goal of the season and forcing a turnover that set up a goal by Artemi Panarin.

It was a nice season-opening win for the Rangers and a big night for Lafreniere’s confidence.

“It was good to get one early,” he said, using his words economically.

Peter Laviolette couldn’t agree more.

One of the first mandates he had when hired as Rangers coach June 13 was to get Lafrieniere and Kaapo Kakko into New York’s group of top-six forwards. In Laviolette’s mind, it was time for each to be put in a position to succeed and take the next step in their careers.

Kakko was selected No. 2 by the Rangers in the 2019 NHL Draft. One year later, the Rangers won the NHL Draft Lottery and selected Lafreniere with the No. 1 pick.

Unlike high-end draft picks like Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils -- who was selected one spot before Kakko -- each struggled early in their NHL careers.

In his four NHL seasons, Kakko, 22, never has scored more than 18 goals in a season. In three seasons, Lafreniere, also 22, has yet to exceed 19.

Laviolette is trying to change that by surrounding them with talented linemates.

For much of training camp and against the Sabres, Kakko played right wing on a line with left wing Chris Kreider and center Mika Zibanejad. Lafreniere, meanwhile, had that same spot on the second line with Panarin at left wing and center Filip Chytil.

While Laviolette said Kakko was one of New York’s best players in the preseason, the coach said Lafreniere struggled through much of camp until something finally clicked.

“He had a couple good practices near the end. Those were his best practices of training camp,” Laviolette said. “To me he took a step from those practices and brought it into the game.

“I thought the line was excellent.”

It certainly appeared so in the early going, especially when Panarin, whose nickname is ‘Bread,’ made a beautiful cross-ice feed to Lafreniere, who slid the puck into a wide-open net at 3:47 of the first period.

Statement made.

“I didn’t have to do much,” Lafreniere said. “It was a great play by Bread. And when you play with guys like Bread, you’re just trying to get open and he’s going to find you. So, that was good.”

For Panarin’s goal, Lafreniere was aggressive at the blue line, forcing two Sabres to turn the puck over to Panarin, who beat goalie Devon Levi from the slot.

But Lafreniere, who had three shots on goal and was plus-2 in 15:29 of ice time, said not every aspect of his game was perfect.

“I can always be better obviously,” he said. “That’s what I’m trying to do every day. Try to practice well every day and get ready for Game 1.

“Now it’s time to get ready for Game 2.”

Kakko was held off the score sheet but looked very comfortable on the top line, helping create chances that resulted in a strong game for Kreider, who had two goals and an assist. Kakko also had three shots on goal in 14:34 of ice time.

“When you feel the coach trusts you and then he gives you ice time, maybe he thinks you are doing something right because he’s putting you in that spot,” Kakko said after the Rangers morning skate. “So, I think the key is just keep working and good things will happen.”

So far so good for each of them.