Rangers' special teams are playing better, which fuels their confidence

This was not an instance of Artemi Panarin discounting what had occurred. Instead, he stated the obvious.

Yes, the specialty units had been productive in the Rangers’ 3-2 overtime win over the Devils on Thursday night at the Garden. They contributed two power-play goals on three man-up opportunities and killed all four Devils power plays.

They unquestionably were positives, but Panarin’s larger point is that it was just one game and 41 more remain in the 2024-25 regular season.

“I don’t want to say too early or anything,” Panarin said. “We have half the year left.”

Whether or not what ailed the power play and penalty kill has been treated or if what transpired against their Hudson River rivals was a mirage will be determined in the long term.

But as the Rangers flew cross country ahead of Saturday night’s game in Las Vegas, they felt optimistic about their special teams.

“Special teams is obviously the difference,” Adam Fox said when asked about the importance of an effective power play and penalty kill.

Neither of which they had during the last month. The Rangers were 5-for-47 (10.6% conversion rate) on the power play in the 17 games they played between Dec. 2 and Jan. 7 and yielded 13 man-up goals in 53 power plays against (75.5% penalty kill rate). Not coincidentally, the Rangers dropped 12 of 17 games (5-11-1) in that stretch.

Against the Devils, however, Fox’s power-play goal at 12:05 of the first period opened the scoring and Panarin’s man-up goal with 2:47 left in the second tied it at 2. The penalty kill held the NHL’s second-best power play (28% conversion rate) to four shots.

“If you’re successful [on the power play and penalty kill], your chances of winning the hockey game go up. Drastically,” coach Peter Laviolette said.

Notes & quotes: The Rangers assigned winger Brett Berard to Hartford of the AHL on Friday and called up center Bo Groulx.