Rangers’ 3rd line has potential to become major contributor despite recent uneven play

The New York Rangers’ 6-1 rout of the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday produced yet another batch of impressive numbers, from balanced scoring to individual statistics to underlying metrics, the last of which continued to paint a picture of a team that’s trending in a very good direction.
Nothing is ever perfect, though, and if coach Peter Laviolette wanted to nitpick, he could have looked at the performance of his third line, featuring Chris Kreider, Filip Chytil and Arthur Kaliyev. That forward unit was the only one of the Blueshirts four to not deliver positive possession numbers, and those 5-and-5 metrics weren’t just in the red – they were downright ugly.
Despite the lopsided final score, Kreider-Chytil-Kaliyev somehow posted a 25.9 expected goal share, with the Rangers getting outshot 11-2 in their 8:39 at 5-on-5, according to Natural Stat Trick. In contrast, the Artemi Panarin-Vincent Trocheck-Alexis Lafreniere line had a 54.4 expected goal share, and Mika Zibanejad-Will Cuylle-Reilly Smith were at 56.3. The fourth line of Matt Rempe, Sam Carrick and Adam Edstrom continued to deliver as well, with a 53.2 mark.
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Chris Kreider-Filip Chytil-Arthur Kaliyev dominated recently 5-on-5

It’s worth noting that the third line did come through with a goal, when Chytil deflected in his 11th of the season early in the third period to extend the Rangers lead to 4-1 against the Flyers. Chytil added an assist on the power play and had four shots on goal, attacking the net and darting around and through defenders in a vintage game that drew Laviolette’s postgame praise.
That, however, doesn’t change the fact that the Blueshirts were almost always back on their heels when Chytil, Kreider and Kaliyev took the ice at even strength. It undoubtedly played a role in the one-sided second period, when Philadelphia fired 17 shots on goal. The Blueshirts luckily had the world’s best goaltender in net, as Igor Shesterkin stopped them all.
Despite their 8-1-3 surge since the New Year, the Rangers need their third line to be better at 5-on-5. This trio has fashioned a 46.9 expected goal share in its six games together, and the past two have been particularly bad, with the unit posting a 25.8 mark against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. That number was just as stunning as Thursday, given that it came in another Rangers rout, 5-0 over the Senators.
Yet that even-strength weakness can be spun positive. Each player has room to grow, and there’s reason to believe in each case that could happen reasonably soon. Along with the fact that the line is still meshing, each of the three forwards might be on the verge of substantial improvement – as individuals and consequently, as a unit.
Chytil, six games into his latest return from an upper-body injury, is rounding into form. His goal against the Flyers was his first since Jan. 5, and the relentless, high-skill style that makes him so effective continues to be on display. If he can finally stay in the lineup long term – and that of course is a big if – there’s every reason to believe the 25-year-old will start to produce more consistently.
Kreider missed four games with an upper-body injury of his own, coming back Jan. 14 – the same date as Chytil – for the Rangers’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The rust was evident, when Kreider missed the net on several shot attempts during a power play in overtime.
Yet he scored in two of the next three games and has looked more comfortable after a reported back injury shelved him. Kreider may have to manage the problem for the rest of the season, but Laviolette saw good signs in his one-goal, plus-2 performance in their 5-3 win over the Utah Hockey Club on Jan. 16. The coach called the 33-year-old left wing “excellent” and “one of our most noticeable players.”
Kreider, despite his struggles with inconsistency and injury this season, still has 15 goals. He’s the same player who scored 127 goals the past three seasons, and he’s playing on the third line.
Kaliyev, a waiver claim from the Los Angeles Kings a few weeks ago, is undoubtedly still working to find his place and rhythm with the Rangers. However, he turned in a strong effort against the Senators, scoring a goal and having another one waved off due to a successful offside challenge. The 23-year-old followed that up with an assist against Philadelphia and is plus-4 the past three games. He has three points (two goals, one assist) in eight games.
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Arthur Kaliyev could be candidate to bolster second PP unit

Kaliyev made the NHL because of his quick, powerful shot, and Laviolette has taken notice of the weapon as the 33rd overall draft pick in 2019 has started to contribute.
“The shot that got called back, that was wicked,” Laviolette said after the Ottawa game. “He’s had actually a couple of those that didn’t go in. He’s gotta work to find that space, and when he can, he can be dangerous.
” … I think he’s fitting in.”
As Kaliyev continues to get his feet under him, Laviolette might want to consider eventually deploying him in the role in which he’s been most effective over his 196 career games. Kaliyev’s big shot makes him a force on the power play, with 17 of his 37 career goals coming with the man advantage. Though the Rangers’ second PP unit doesn’t get much time, Kaliyev setting up on the right side, looking to trigger his elite release, would bring a new dimension to that group.
Questions about the third line will persist until – if – they begin to win their matchups at even strength. Kreider and Kaliyev aren’t 5-on-5 warriors and at their best on special teams – in Kreider’s case, also being an outstanding penalty killer who’s scored 11 short-handed goals since the start of the 2021-22 season. Chytil being in the lineup makes the Rangers a much different and better team, yet he’s yet to kick the injury bug in his career, having missed 81 games since the start of last season.
The potential of these three skilled, big-bodied forwards to become a difference-making bottom-six unit, though, is apparent. One need look no further than their efforts in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens last Sunday, when the line dominated with a 58.6 expected goal share and Kreider scored a go-ahead goal late in the second period.
There have been numerous reasons for the Rangers’ turnaround in the new year, but none of them have been bigger than getting contributions from throughout the lineup. Like the nascent fourth line, the third line has a higher ceiling than it’s shown to this point. As with the Rangers’ other forward units, it may just be a matter of time until Kreider, Chytil and Kaliyev begin their own climb – one that might significantly strengthen a team that seems to finally be on its way to becoming a tough, dangerous playoff contender.
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