You may need a reminder on this as Barclay Goodrow made his return to the Garden on Thursday as a member of the Sharks, but the Rangers’ bottom-six was a mess at this point last season when No. 21 was in the middle of it all.

<div class="nyp-slideshow-modal-image__wrapper"><a href="#" aria-controls="nyp-slideshow-modal" data-slideshow-modal="trigger" title="Open a slideshow of all 4 article images." aria-label="Open a slideshow of all 4 article images." data-slideshow-slide-number="1" data-slideshow-slides-total="4"> 4 </a></div><figcaption>Rangers center Barclay Goodrow #21 shoots and scores during the third period when the New York Rangers played the Washington Capitals Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. for the NY POST</figcaption>

Filip Chytil, who had opened 2023-24 centering Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere on the second line, had gone down for the count on Nov. 2. That meant that Vincent Trocheck, who had been centering the third line, moved up in what proved to be a serendipitous development.&nbsp;

A month-plus into the season, the bottom six’s efficiency has been critical in the team’s 9-4-1 start. {ai:summary}Barclay Goodrow returned to Madison Square Garden as a member of the Sharks, reflecting on the struggles of the Rangers' bottom-six last season. Filip Chytil's injury on Nov. 2 led to Vincent Trocheck moving up to the second line, a change that positively impacted the team's performance.#sports

Rangers’ bottom-six excelling without Barclay Goodrow in the mix

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