The necessity for Jonny Brodzinski, the emergence of Will Cuylle and the offensive struggles of Kaapo Kakko have led to the creation of a makeshift third line for the Rangers that has actually shown flashes of promise as of late.
Friday night’s 4-3 overtime win over the Blackhawks marked the trio’s fifth straight game together, but this was a line head coach Peter Laviolette designed in the preseason.
The first time they played in a game together was the Blueshirts’ third exhibition game against the Devils on Sept. 28 at the Garden.
“Our line is playing really well together,” Brodzinski said after giving the Rangers a 3-1 lead in the second period Friday. “I think just that chemistry, finally getting a few games under our belt together. Just the overall awareness of where each other’s at, it’s getting a lot better.”
It’s a unit that goes to the net. They can add some physicality.
And in the last four games, the line has proven it can score, too.
Brodzinski has scored three times in the past four contests while posting four points altogether over that span, including his fourth multi-point effort of the season against the Senators before the All-Star break.
After Cuylle helped push it through the neutral zone, Kakko danced on the blue line with the puck on his stick until the Rangers rookie tagged up to allow the line to enter the zone.
The Finnish wing was a force entering the zone before he unloaded a shot from the left faceoff circle.
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Cuylle was already crashing the net and knocked the puck out of Chicago goalie Peter Mzarek’s reach before Brodzinski swept in and buried it to give the Rangers a two-goal lead.
In 44:25 of ice time, according to Natural Stat Trick, Cuylle, Brodzinski and Kakko have been on the ice for three Rangers goals and two against.
They’ve posted an even 21-21 in attempts while also owning a 13-9 edge in high-danger chances.
Alexis Lafreniere’s game-tying goal in the first period Friday night marked his 60th career road point (29 goals and 31 assists).
Since his debut in 2020-21, only four Rangers players have collected more points as a visitor: Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox and Chris Kreider.