Like a boat that’s less than seaworthy, leaks keep appearing and needing to be plugged. As with any leak, a permanent fix is required or the problem will resurface as some point.

The latest crack the Blueshirts ship is facing is the third line, which like it did last season, has devolved into a sinkhole of uncertain personnel use and little production. That the dilemma re-emerged after the departure of regular No. 3 center Filip Chytil should hardly have been a surprise.

The excitement over the acquisition of top-line pivot J.T. Miller on Jan. 31 has largely worn off, with the reality of the cost of the move becoming increasingly obvious. While no one would harbor regrets over the obtaining of Miller as a linchpin of general manager Chris Drury’s ongoing renovation of the roster, the deal cost the Rangers Chytil, whose skill set at least gave the team an anchor to build a third forward unit around.

With Chytil now playing for the Vancouver Canucks, coach Peter Laviolette has watched as any impact from his third line has stalled. Without a clear option to center the line, or a clear sense of what he’s looking for from the unit, Laviolette has cycled through personnel to little success.

Related: Winners, losers after Rangers fall to Jets to start road trip

Loss to Jets put spotlight on Rangers ugly third-line situation

The coach has tried depth players Jonny Brodzinski and newcomer Juuso Parssinen in the middle of the line, neither of whom stuck. Recently, he’s moved Sam Carrick, a revelation as a low-cost fourth-line center this season, up to 3C, where he’s miscast. Wingers from Chris Kreider to Arthur Kaliyev to Brennan Othmann to Brett Berard have taken spins on the third line. None of it has worked.

The frustration for Laviolette over this issue is all too familiar. Last season, the loss of Chytil to a suspected concussion for almost all of 2023-24 left the coach in the same spot, as Brodzinski and others tried in vain to create a cohesive, effective unit that could at least contribute some offense. The opening was only somewhat patched with the trade-deadline acquisition of Alex Wennberg, who provided stability in the middle of the line but not much in the way of scoring (his overtime goal in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final notwithstanding).

This time around, Chytil is gone for good, and with the trade deadline having passed, the Rangers are left with internal options, none of which evoke confidence in them being the solution.

Laviolette and the front office received a painful reminder of what they’re missing in the 2-1 loss to the NHL-best Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday – the fourth in a row (0-2-2) for a Blueshirts team that’s struggling to keep pace in the race for an Eastern Conference wild-card spot. The Jets boast a sturdy third line, made up of 6-foot-5, 210-pound two-way center Adam Lowry, 6-2, 218-pound left wing Nino Niederreiter and right wing Mason Appleton.

The Jets employ that line as a shutdown unit, with the big and physical Lowry ideal for going head-to-head with top NHL centers, winning 52.0 percent of his face-offs this season. Niederreiter, like Lowry an elite defensive forward, served in the same role during his three-plus seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes, teaming with center Jordan Staal and former Ranger wing Jesper Fast on a dominant matchup third line.

All three players also provide offense. Lowry has 14 goals and 15 assists this season, Niederreiter has 30 points and Appleton 19. The trio has posted a 51.1 expected goal share, and Winnipeg has outscored opponents 20-9 with the line on at 5-on-5 while out-chancing teams 97-84, per Natural Stat Trick. It’s hardly a coincidence that the Jets are by far the League’s best defensive outfit, allowing 2.3 goals per game.

It’s the kind of third line that the Rangers have never been able to construct – one with a clear purpose and dimension that the Blueshirts desperately need. Even with Chytil, questions persisted about whether the club required what amounted to a third offensive unit instead of a checking trio to take on opposing top lines.

Related: Jonathan Quick to return for another season with Rangers, agrees to 1-year contract

There’s little hope of Rangers being able to correct third-line problem this season

Now, Drury isn’t any closer to forging such a group than he was last season, when stellar play from the top line of Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere helped to paper over the lack of bottom-six depth — especially the glaring matter of the third line.

The avenues for coach and GM to fix this for the final 17 regular-season games are limited and known. Parssinen was viewed as an intriguing prospect when he arrived as part of the Ryan Lindgren trade March 1, but he lasted a couple of games as the 3C before Laviolette moved him to the wing, and then out of the lineup. Kaliyev’s mostly nondescript 14 games in a Blueshirt have illustrated why the Los Angeles Kings waived him in January.

Brodzinski remains nothing more than a solid depth option, one who’s failed to nail down a steady role when given chances to do so over the past several seasons. And Laviolette would benefit the lineup by putting Carrick back on the fourth line with Matt Rempe, as that unit is the team’s only one that can maintain a consistent forecheck and cycle effectively in the offensive zone.

Like so many of the Rangers’ structural and cultural problems, the third forward unit’s ongoing lack of identity and meaningful production will have to be dealt with in the offseason. Perhaps a summer call to Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff about old friend Morgan Barron might be a course of action for Drury as he seeks a big, tough center to build a Winnipeg-esque third line.

Drury, of course, has bigger offseason matters to address. If he doesn’t get around to addressing this one, however, the hole is going to keep letting in water indefinitely – dragging the Rangers downward with it.

So with his preferred digits retired by his new team, the veteran forward reportedly will flip the numbers and wear No. 91 in 2024-25 with the Rangers.

F Reilly Smith will wear jersey number 91 for the New York Rangers. Number last worn by Alex Wennberg in 2023-24. #NYR pic.twitter.com/fTU3nrGlXS

— NHL Jersey Numbers (@NHLNewNumbers) August 12, 2024

Smith was acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1. The 33-year-old wore No. 19 for his one season with the Penguins, after wearing the same number for six seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights. He had much good fortune with No. 19 in Vegas, scoring 20+ goals three times and winning the Stanley Cup in 2023.

Before arriving in Vegas, Smith wore No. 18 with the Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers. That number currently belongs to forward Riley Nash in the Rangers organization. Nash played one game with the Rangers last season and spent the remainder of the campaign with Hartford in the American Hockey League.

So, Smith will try something new this season on Broadway.

Related: How Rangers impacted by rival ‘probably moving on’ from 2 veterans

Rangers history with No. 91

Smith will be the sixth player in Rangers history to wear No. 91. Of all the numbers in the nineties, it is the one used most often all-time by the Blueshirts, ahead of No. 90, which three players wore, most recently Justin Richards in 2021.

Interestingly, this will be the fourth straight season a Rangers player wears No. 91. And Smith will be the fourth different player in that stretch to do so, accepting the torch, if you will, from forward Alex Wennberg who wore it last season but signed with the San Jose Sharks in July.

Like his predecessors wearing 91 with the Rangers, Smith could be handing the jersey back soon. Smith is set to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.

That said, let’s examine the first five players to wear No. 91 in Rangers history.

Markus Naslund – 2008-09

The best player to wear No. 91 for the Rangers was also the first to do so. Markus Naslund, the former Vancouver Canucks captain who scored 395 goals and 869 points in the NHL, wore 91 during his one season in New York, his final one in the League.

Naslund wore No. 19 when he played for the Canucks and was one of the elite forwards in the NHL. After signing with the Rangers, he switched digits because Scott Gomez already had No. 19. That sweater number was not retired until 2018, so after Gomez, it was also worn by Ruslan Fedotenko, Brad Richards and Jesper Fast.

But we digress.

Naslund scored 24 goals and had 46 points for the Rangers in 2008-09, his 10th straight season with at least 20 goals. He retired even though there was another year remaining on his contract.

Evgeny Grachev – 2010-11

Next to wear No. 91 for the Blueshirts was Evgeny Grachev, though not for long. An intriguing forward prospect, who scored 16 goals with Connecticut in the American Hockey League, Grachev played only eight games with the Rangers in 2010-11. He never recorded a point and played for the St. Louis Blues the following season.

After scoring one goal in 26 games with the Blues, it was back to Russia in 2013-14 for Grachev, who played the remainder of his career in the KHL.

Sammy Blais – 2021-2023

It took 11 years before another Rangers player wore No. 91. Sammy Blais took it after being acquired from the Blues in the Pavel Buchnevich trade. Blais wore No. 9 previously in St. Louis, but that number was already retired in honor of Adam Graves and Andy Bathgate by time the energetic forward arrived on Broadway.

Blais was limited to 54 games over two seasons with the Rangers because of a knee injury. He never scored a goal with the Rangers and ended up with nine assists.

On Feb. 9, 2023, Blais was sent back to the Blues as a part of a package for defenseman Niko Mikkola and the next player to don No. 91 …

Vladimir Tarasenko – 2023

Vladimir Tarasenko was happy to take over No. 91 from Blais since that’s the number he wore with great success for the Blues for 11 seasons, including 2018-19 when they won the Stanley Cup.

Unlike Blais and Grachev before him, it didn’t take long for Tarasenko to score his first goal wearing No. 91 for the Blueshirts. Tarasenko lit the lamp in his Rangers debut on Feb. 10 against the Seattle Kraken at MSG. He went on to record 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 31 regular-season games with the Rangers, and four points (three goals, assist) in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Tarasenko left after the 2022-23 season, signing as a free agent with the Ottawa Senators. After being traded ahead of the 2024 deadline, Tarasenko helped the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup last spring. He scored the series-deciding goal in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Rangers.

Alex Wennberg – 2024

Like Tarasenko, Alex Wennberg was a trade-deadline acquisition, who also wore No. 91 in New York. Unlike Tarasenko, Wennberg didn’t have a connection to the number after having worn 41, 10 and 21 previously for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Panthers and Kraken.

Wennberg was a solid third-line center, who played well defensively and on the penalty kill. He did not, however, produce much offensively, scoring one goal in 19 regular-season games and one in 16 playoff games. However, his lone postseason goal was the memorable OT winner in Game 3 of the conference final against the Panthers.

Wennberg is a nice complementary player, a third-line center with the Blueshirts after being acquired from the Seattle Kraken before the 2024 NHL trade deadline. He plays smart and hard, and his professionalism will rub off on the Sharks youngsters, notably No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini.

So, there is reason to like this signing for San Jose.

But at $5 million per season?

He’s topped 13 goals once (17 in 2020-21 with the Florida Panthers) in 10 NHL seasons, and showed zero scoring touch in 35 games with the Rangers (19 regular-season games, 16 postseason games) when he scored once on an actual shot and then once in overtime of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final when he went to the crease and the puck deflected off his chest and into the net.

He’s been give top-six minutes throughout his career and never done much with it. And he’s abysmal in the face-off circle, never winning at least 50 percent of his draws in a season. In 712 NHL games, Wennberg has a 46.2 percent face-off winning percentage.

His previous contract had a $4.5 million AAV, so, at 29, you can argue the veteran should get a raise. But really, based on what? By comparison, Reilly Smith, a Stanley Cup champion who’s thrived in the postseason throughout his career and has five 20-goal seasons and whom the Rangers acquired in a trade Monday, makes $5 million a season. a contract he signed two years ago at age 31.

Nonetheless, a good day for the Wennberg family, and for Barclay Goodrow, another former Rangers forward who’ll now have a familiar face to connect with in San Jose this season.

Related: Have Rangers found Barclay Goodrow replacement in NHL free agency?

Patrick Kane, Erik Gustafsson among former Rangers to sign contracts in free agency

Wennberg wasn’t the only former Rangers player to land on his feet when free agency started Monday.

Future Hall of Famer Patrick Kane never made it to the open market. The three-time Stanley Cup champion re-signed with the Detroit Red Wings on a one-year, $4 million contract with $2.5 million in bonuses. He reportedly had interest in a Rangers reunion, after playing with them after the 2023 trade deadline when he was hobbled by a hip injury that required surgery. But the Red Wings signed Kane before the Rangers had a chance to negotiate with him.

Erik Gustafsson will join Kane in Detroit after agreeing to a two-year, $4 million contract. The 32-year-old defenseman was a regular on the Rangers third pair this past season and moved up when Adam Fox missed 10 games in November with a knee injury. Gustafsson finished with 31 points (six goals, 25 assists) in his only season wearing the Blueshirt.

Another former Rangers player also signed with the Red Wings on Monday. Veteran goalie Cam Talbot, an NHL All-Star with the Los Angeles Kings last season, signed a two-year deal to play for his seventh team since the start of the 2018-19 season.

Reilly Smith’s brother, former Rangers defenseman Brendan Smith, left the New Jersey Devils to sign a one-year deal with the Dallas Stars.

Closer to home, former Rangers forward Anthony Duclair inked a four-year contract with the Islanders.

The Rangers didn’t make the sexy move ahead of the deadline. They didn’t trade for a big name like Jake Guentzel or reunite with All-Star Frank Vatrano, who was a nice fit during the 2022 postseason run.

Instead, the Rangers added complementary pieces, to varying degrees of success. They acquired center Alex Wennberg from the Seattle Kraken for a 2024 second-round pick in the NHL Draft and a fourth.-round selection in 2025. They also picked up forward Jack Roslovic from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a fourth-round pick in 2026.

New York also acquired veteran depth defenseman Chad Ruhwedel for a fourth-round selection in 2027.

So, that’s two lineup regulars and Ruhwedel, who appeared in five regular-season games and none in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Each was a rental and none is expected to re-sign when they all become unrestricted free agents July 1.

The cost, by and large, was minimal, though the Rangers now don’t have a second- nor third-round pick in this draft nor do they have a second-round selection in the next three drafts. But they held on to their first-round pick and top prospects, like Gabe Perreault and Brennan Othmann.

The question, of course, will always remain: could the Rangers have landed Guentzel if they would’ve parted with a first-rounder and/or a key prospect or two? And if the Stanley Cup champion played for the Rangers, what difference would he have made on the top line, power play and, most importantly, against the Florida Panthers in the conference final?

We will never know. And perhaps Guentzel lands on Broadway through free agency this offseason. But that’s for another day.

Related: Rangers’ options to fill right-wing vacancy in NHL free agency

Breaking down Rangers 2024 trade-deadline acquisitions

Removing Ruhwedel from the equation, let’s examine the Wennberg and Roslovic deals made ahead of the trade deadline.

Alex Wennberg

Realistically, Wennberg performed exactly as should have been expected for the Rangers. So, really, he lived up to his billing in all areas, providing solid play on the third line, most often alongside Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko.

He’s never been much of a scorer nor good at face-offs. And that played out with the Rangers. In 19 regular-season games, Wennberg had one goal and five points, and won 45.1 percent of his face-offs. He had one goal — the overtime winner in Game 3 of the conference final against the Panthers — and two points, and won 44.1 percent of his draws in the postseason.

But what Wennberg does do well carried over with the Rangers. He’s strong on the puck, helping create positive puck possession numbers, and he’s very responsible defensively. Wennberg was, as expected, a solid addition on the penalty kill.

The Rangers needed a steady veteran to center the third line with Filip Chytil out injured and not expected to return, and Wennberg delivered that. He certainly didn’t exceed expectations — if he did, perhaps it would’ve helped the Rangers to still be playing. But he didn’t hurt the Rangers either. He just didn’t move the needle much.

Related: Where Rangers stand after NHL salary cap increases

Jack Roslovic

The Rangers desperately needed a forward to jell with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad on the top line. And perhaps general manager Chris Drury envisioned another low-cost, high-upside move would fit the bill, just as Vatrano did two years ago.

Problem is, like Wennberg, Roslovic basically was who he’s always been. But that wasn’t nearly enough for the Rangers. As a third-line right wing, which on a good team is likely Roslovic’s best role, sure. But on the top line? Just because he played first-line minutes with the woeful Blue Jackets?

Not good. Not enough.

Roslovic had three goals and eight points in 19 regular-season games. He started hot in the playoffs, with points in five straight games, including his first-ever postseason goal in 22 games. But when things got tougher against the Carolina Hurricanes and Panthers, Roslovic faded, though he did have two assists in Game 6 of the second round against Carolina.

Playing almost exclusively on the perimeter, Roslovic was a non-factor. He scored two goals, each on the power play, early in the postseason and that was it. He had eight points in 16 games, and managed just 21 shots on goal.

Roslovic finished the postseason skating on the fourth line.

His inconsistent scoring followed his career path, where he has 80 goals in 445 NHL games.

Yes, it cost only a fourth-round pick. But choosing to trade for Roslovic instead of someone with a greater pedigree was to New York’s detriment. This was a misfire, one that had ramifications in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The group includes forwards Blake Wheeler, Alex Wennberg and Jack Roslovic, and defensemen Erik Gustafsson and Chad Ruhwedel.

Wheeler, who will be 38 next season and is coming off a tough knee injury that sidelined him three months, could retire.

“I don’t know,” Wheeler said Tuesday at break-up day, when asked if he wants to play next season.

“I still love the game, still love to play,” he added, though referencing his desire to be home for his three children, including an 11-year-old son entering middle school.

Wheeler had 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 54 regular-season games during his first season with New York. He returned from his injury to play Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers, taking a key penalty in overtime that set up Florida’s game-winning goal.

The 16-year veteran has 321 goals and 943 points in 1,172 NHL games.

Wennberg, who was acquired from the Seattle Kraken ahead of the NHL trade deadline, said he enjoyed his time with the Rangers and has interest in re-signing.

“I would love to stay,” Wennberg explained. “That’s something we’ll discuss in the future. It’s good memories so far from this place. I would definitely want to come back here.”

Despite a lack of offensive production, Wennberg seemed to be a good fit with the Rangers. He was a key penalty killer and filled the third-line center role which was an area that New York was desperately searching for prior to the deadline because of Filip Chytil’s injury absence. With Chytil now healthy, there may not be a spot for Wennberg on this roster.

Wennberg notched one goal and four assists in 18 regular-season games with the Rangers after the trade. In 16 playoff games, he had one goal and one assist. His goal, of course, was the memorable overtime winner in Game 3 of the conference final, New York’s final win of the postseason.

“It’s been awesome,” Wennberg said. “Obviously disappointed with the ending, but time has been flying here. Coming to a good team, meeting new guys, and being a part of the New York Rangers was amazing. It would be a little nicer to win the whole thing, but I see this whole perspective from a really positive note for myself.”

Related: Emily Kaplan says Rangers had ‘too many passengers’ against Panthers in playoffs

Rangers could part ways with all unrestricted free agents

Roslovic, the other deadline acquisition for New York, is also a pending UFA. Similar to Wennberg, his status is currently unknown going forward.

Roslovic had three goals and five assists in 19 regular-season games after being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets. He had a solid start to the playoffs, with five points in his first five games, but had just three assists in the remaining 11.

He did not really fill the role of a first-line right wing, as many have tried and failed alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. He was better in a depth role, but struggled to find consistency.

Gustafsson had a solid season for the Rangers. He earned 31 points in his first season with New York, and played a large when Adam Fox missed a month due to a knee injury in November. He has been a solid depth defenseman, playing alongside Braden Schneider for the majority of the season

In the playoffs, he logged three assists, and averaged 18:09 in ice time. He is another player who would like to stay in New York, but is uncertain as to what the future holds.

“Obviously, I love playing here,” Gustafsson said. “I can’t see into the future, but I have family and stuff like that. I have to see what’s happening. I love playing here, and I love the group in here. We’ll see what happens.”

Gustafsson signed to a very friendly $825,000 contract with the Rangers, and could be looking for a raise.

Ruhwedel played sparingly after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins and not at all in the postseason.

General manager Chris Drury has some important decisions to make here this summer. As seen in the playoffs, depth pieces can make or break a championship team, especially when the top players begin to struggle. But it would be a surprise if any of the five UFAs return next season.

A record-setting regular season laid the groundwork for what was expected to be a special springtime in New York. A quick four-game sweep of the overmatched Washington Capitals in the first round began the parallel from the last truly special April through June in New York City back in 1994. That continued when the current Rangers won their first seven postseason games, just like in ’94.

The “Team of Destiny” vibes intensified in Round 2 with overtime victories in Games 2 and 3, which proceeded Chris Kreider’s legacy-defining natural hat trick in Game 6 to oust the hated Carolina Hurricanes, harkening back to Mark Messier 30 years ago.

But then things changed as they so often do. Sure, there were two more overtime wins early in the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers that added more fuel to the fire that this was the year things would be different.

Until they weren’t.

The Rangers showed how far they truly are to winning their first Stanley Cup in what will now be at least 31 years when they lost the final three games to the Panthers. And that distance must have president and general manager Chris Drury asking some difficult questions about who can or should be part of ending that long title drought.

While the emotions of that 2-1 defeat in Game 6 on Saturday were raw, there was already talk of what changes could come to this group following its second conference final defeat in three seasons.

So now change is coming.

“That’s the s—ty part of any season,” Adam Fox said postgame. “I think there’s so many guys that came and helped, just because you know in pro sports you don’t keep everyone and teams change, but I think the culture we’ve built here, the camaraderie we’ve had is something that — you’re gonna have some turnover — I think the foundation is here.”

Related: Here’s what’s next for Rangers after playoff elimination

Roster changes inevitable for Rangers

Drury was lauded for his thrifty spending last offseason. He filled holes in his lineup with veterans on the cheap. But as we approach 12 months later, only goalie Jonathan Quick has an extension and is guaranteed a spot with the Rangers next season.

Blake Wheeler and Erik Gustafsson are unrestricted free agents signed last July 1, both unlikely to return.

Wheeler struggled and never found his spot in the lineup before his leg injury in February kept him out of the lineup until Game 4 of the conference final. He took the penalty that led to Florida’s game-winner in overtime, though Mika Zibanejad had plenty of culpability there too.

Aleksander Barkov gets in behind the Rangers D, forcing Blake Wheeler to take a penalty#TimeToHunt | #NYR pic.twitter.com/BAccve7iJu

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) May 29, 2024

Gustaffson, meanwhile, performed well during Fox’s month-long absence in November, posting 11 points. But after losing that spot on the top power-play unit when Fox returned, he scored just three goals and had 16 points after the calendar turned to December. As an offensive blueliner, more production is expected.

Drury opted for singles and doubles this trade deadline after being criticized a year prior for going for home runs and even grand slams. The Rangers didn’t chase the next Vladimir Tarasenko or Patrick Kane, and the depth moves made were similar to the 2022 deadline.

Forwards Alex Wennberg and Jack Roslovic, along with defenseman Chad Ruhwedel, were brought in prior to the deadline to varying degrees of success, though none pushed down the stretch to command a new deal for next season.

Wennberg was solid defensively — especially on the penalty kill — but brought nearly no offense outside of his overtime-winner in Game 3 against Florida, his only goal in the postseason.

Roslovic, meanwhile, wasn’t the answer as the team’s top right wing — something Drury has spent numerous capital looking for since essentially giving away Pavel Buchnevich. His only two postseason goals were against Washington, and he had just four points — including two in Game 6 against Carolina — the rest of the way. Roslovic ended the playoffs skating on the fourth line.

With both players coming off contracts paying them north of $4 million — in Wennberg’s case, nearly $5 million — it’s hard to imagine Drury not finding others to play those roles on much cheaper contracts.

Ruhwedel was pointless in five regular-season games and didn’t dress in the playoffs.

Drury also has decisions to make on several RFAs, including Kaapo Kakko and Ryan Lindgren.

Kakko expects a bigger role but doesn’t have the trust of this coaching staff. He could be a trade candidate or, at least, a difficult offseason contract negotiation. Lindgren is a worthy candidate to keep, but his style of play lends itself to injury and a player who break down physically sooner rather than later.

It’s been nearly nine months since training camp commenced. The trade deadline was more than three months ago. This group of roughly 25 players battled together, traveled together, celebrated and cried together. No one is ever ready for it to end and the ultimate change that comes with it.

“It feels like a family in here,” Zibanejad said Saturday. “I think we’ve been working since training camp started. A lot of guys have been here from before and the new guys that came in have been unbelievable.

“This obviously makes it a lot harder to lose.”

As Laviolette was being interviewed by ABC rinkside reporter Emily Kaplan during a play stoppage, a shirtless young fan was perfectly positioned behind the Rangers bench to steal the coach’s air time. The youngster was situated between Laviolette and Kaplan in the camera shot, flexing his muscles.

“How about this guy behind us?” Laviolette asked with a chuckle.

To which Kaplan had a quick quip of her own, knowing that these in-game interviews aren’t always a favorite of NHL coaches.

“He likes the interview more than you do,” Kaplan retorted.

The shirtless kid behind the Rangers bench is back, and Lavi chirped him on TV 😂 https://t.co/619OkgZLhN

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 2, 2024

Showing what a pro he is, Laviolette finished explaining why he moved Alex Wennberg up to right wing on the top line alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. And then he turned to the boy and elbowed the glass between them before resuming his coaching duties.

Related: Jonny Brodzinski back in lineup for Game 6, Jimmy Vesey takes part in morning skate

Peter Laviolette juggles Rangers line combinations for Game 6 vs. Panthers

Down in the best-of-7 series 3-2 and facing playoff elimination, Laviolette shook up his line combinations for Game 6. He explained in the interview with Kaplan that he moved Wennberg, who’s been the third-line center exclusively since being acquired from the Seattle Kraken ahead of the NHL trade deadline, to right wing on the top line because he believed Wennberg could get Zibanejad the puck in better shooting situations.

Zibanejad entered play without a goal in his past 10 postseason games. Plus, he and Kreider have gone through a litany of right wings on their line in the playoffs, including Jack Roslovic, Filip Chytil, Kaapo Kakko, Artemi Panarin and Jimmy Vesey.

Chytil moved back to his natural position at center, taking Wennberg’s spot on the third line. He skated with Kakko and Barclay Goodrow, who entered the game with six playoff goals and moved up from the fourth line.

Jonny Brodzinski entered the lineup to play his first game of the series. He was on the fourth line with Will Cuylle and Roslovic. Matt Rempe was a healthy scratch.

How can you blame him? His team out-attempted the Rangers by a 108-44 margin, and outshot them 37 to 23 on Sunday. Yet, they find themselves down 2-1 in this Eastern Conference Final series looking for answers.

“Sometimes you want to keep the growl,” Maurice said afterwards. “A lot of times in the playoffs it’s about making sure you keep that energy full. You cut off losses and let it go. But then there’s times you want to keep it, eat it, and let it burn for a while to find a different energy source. I think you put up whatever we put up, and you don’t come away with a win we should be a little growly.”

Related: Rangers commit highway robbery in Florida

Panthers will be ‘growly’ against Rangers in Game 4

Of course, Maurice wasn’t the only one upset after the loss. To a man, the Panthers looked almost baffled with how they dropped a game in which they dominated based on analytics.

“Obviously, not happy with the end result,” Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov lamented. “We were down 4-2, came back, and we were all pumped up, excited. There were some good things we can take into the next game.”

Sam Reinhart, who scored two power-play goals in the contest during the first period, appeared stunned during his postgame interview still gave the most profound explanation.

“Anytime you lose a close one like that, it’s obviously frustrating,” he noted. “You can say we dominated, but then you look at the mistakes that lead to their goals, there’s areas of improvement for sure.”

While the shot attempts were clearly in Florida’s favor, according to NHL Edge, New York actually had a 10-8 advantage in high-danger shots.

Alexis Lafreniere certainly posted several of those shots, putting home two beautiful backhands past Sergei Bobrovsky. On his first goal early in the opening frame, he flew past the Panthers defense going high glove-side. He followed that up with easily a finalist for best goal of these playoffs by going coast-to-coast, busting through a sea of red jerseys, and ending with Bobrovsky on his backside.

ALEXIS LAFRENIERE, ARE YOU SERIOUS⁉️ 😱 pic.twitter.com/cUpxcuwA0o

— ESPN (@espn) May 26, 2024

Then there was Barclay Goodrow, who has been on an absolute tear with three of the Rangers last six goals, including the overtime winner in Game 2. On his first goal, the Panthers left him all alone in the high-slot to tip one past Bobrovsky. That was followed by lazy back-checking as he blasted a top shelf shorthanded-goal near the end of the second period.

Barclay Goodrow is on a heater of all heaters right now. 🔥 #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: ABC & @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1 pic.twitter.com/3AUDZQvQJU

— NHL (@NHL) May 26, 2024

Apparently learning nothing from Goodrow’s first goal, Florida allowed Wennberg to skate all alone to the front of the net, where he had no pressure to redirect a long shot behind Bobrovsky for the winner.

At the end of the day, Igor Shesterkin made all the big stops needed to set up the steal. However, the Panthers should stop whining about how many shots went wide or were blocked, because their defensive lapses is probably what robbed them of the win on Sunday.

Honestly, I would be pretty growly too.

“It’s amazing,” Wennberg smiled postgame. “You see the puck go into the net, it’s a burst of energy, a burst of all kinds of feelings. It’s great, obviously.

“The third period didn’t end the way we want it, but you’ve to go in and reset. Obviously, we had a little talk there, but this team, we have that belief as a group. We’re maybe not the most vocal, but we all look at each other. We know what to do and you obviously see when we get out there, we get the job done.”

Don LaGreca & Dave Maloney's call for the @NYRangers Game 3 OT-winner on MSG Radio Network

Iconic. pic.twitter.com/2cxq5BAwyb

— Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) May 26, 2024

Now the Rangers have a chance to regroup and put forth a more complete effort in Game 4 of this Eastern Conference Final battle set for Tuesday. If they can find a way to come out on top again, they will grab a 3-1 stranglehold on this series with a chance to close them out at Madison Square Garden in Game 5.

Related: Panthers coach refuses to comment on Jacob Trouba hit

Rangers Recall: Blueshirts steal one in Florida

It started with two goals in 25 seconds by Alexis Lafreniere and Barclay Goodrow to take a 2-1 lead early in the first period. The Panthers responded with Sam Reinhart’s second power-play goal of the stanza to equalize.

In the second period, the Rangers same duo did their magic again with Lafreniere scoring hands downs the best goal of this postseason run to date, and Goodrow blasting one shorthanded.

Him #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: ABC & @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/Pp9X7OHmTu
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/sEijvXhJpz https://t.co/SAjSXz4Tzr pic.twitter.com/57LytL5T7S

— NHL (@NHL) May 26, 2024

Prior to the start of the series, we called Lafreniere possibly the Rangers’ best weapon against the heavy-hitting Panthers because of his combination of speed, skill, and physicality. As the Blueshirts top stars continue to be shutdown, the 22-year-old winger busted through Florida’s defenses to make a huge difference on Sunday.

“I think my working hard this summer, trying to improve my skating,” Lafreniere explained about his emergence as a scoring threat. “I just try to play my game and make plays. Obviously, playing with ‘Bread’ and ‘Troch’ helps a lot.”

As for Goodrow, he’s scored three of the Rangers last six goals going back to his Game 2 overtime winner. The 31-year-old veteran, who scored just four times in the regular season has six goals and two assists in 13 playoff games to date.

“He’s been a key contributor,” coach Peter Laviolette said of Goodrow. “We ask different players to do different roles. A lot of his is the heavy lifting on the defensive side of the puck. But he’s certainly a guy whose put up numbers in his career with big goals in big opportunities in playoffs past.”

Of course, the other story of this game was the play of Igor Shesterkin. Even though the Rangers relinquished their 4-2 lead in the third period, if not for the 28-year-old backstop, there’s no opportunity to win it in overtime.

Igor Shesterkin. That is all. pic.twitter.com/ACeZrM2pKu

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 26, 2024

From the start of the third period until Wennberg deflected Ryan Lindgren’s point shot for the winner, Florida outshot the Rangers 18 to 8. Regarding shot attempts, the Panthers held a 41 to 10 advantage in the third period alone.

Shesterkin was basically under siege, but remained steadfast thwarting many incredibly difficult Panthers’ chances. That included Matthew Tkachuk coming in alone and firing a shot from point blank range to preserve the tie and set the stage for an epic steal.

After chasing big names in 2023, trading for Vladamir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane, and then flaming out in the first round of the playoffs, losing in seven games to the New Jersey Devils, the Rangers reverted to their 2022 trade-deadline strategy. Simply, that was to find the best fits, if not the biggest names.

The Rangers acquired third-line center Alex Wennberg from the Seattle Kraken and forward Jack Roslovic from the Columbus Blue Jackets ahead of this year’s deadline.

Chris Drury’s approach this go-round was similar to 2022, when the Rangers went out and acquired Andrew Copp, Frank Vatrano, Tyler Motte, and Justin Braun. Not the sexiest names available, but each played a role in New York’s run to the 2022 Eastern Conference Final. 

Now, the Rangers are one win from reaching the conference final again, off to a 7-0 start in the postseason. And Roslovic and Wennberg have settled nicely into their roles, with each playing a key part in New York’s postseason success to date.

Related: Blake Wheeler ‘champing at the bit’ to return in playoffs

Jack Roslovic fitting in on Rangers’ top line

It took time for Roslovic to find his footing on the first line with Mika Zibenajad and Chris Kreider. He had eight points (three goals, five assists) in 19 regular-season games and was scratched for one contest. But Roslovic has been mostly solid in the playoffs.

Roslovic has three even-strength assists in seven playoff games, and has scored two goals on the second power-play unit. His power-play snipe in Game 2 of the first-round sweep against the Washington Capitals was a thing of beauty, not to mention his first playoff goal in 22 career postseason games.

#NYR Jack Roslovic on his goal tonight:

“A lot of hours in the backyard” #ALLCAPS Spencer Carbery on Roslovic’s goal:

“That’s a high, high-end elite play. You got to tip your cap.” https://t.co/Ob587guCXV

— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) April 24, 2024

Roslovic has helped Zibenajad play his best hockey of the season during the postseason. And Roslovic’s speed has much to do with that, generating chances for his linemates and himself, as he did during each of the two overtimes in Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Alex Wennberg is glue to third line for Rangers

The top six must produce for any team to go deep into the playoffs. The Rangers stars have risen to the occasion, and their third line has been an excellent shutdown unit. Up until Game 3 against the Hurricanes, Wennberg, Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko consistently controlled possession in the offensive zone and worked an effective cycle game in the playoffs.

Filip Chytil returned from a six-month injury absence and replaced Cuylle as the left wing on the unit in Game 3. The third line held its own with Chytil on board Thursday, outchanced 4-3 at 5v5.

The third line has scored one goal in the playoffs, by Kakko in Game 4 of the first round. Chytil could provide more offense to make this line more of a two-way threat.

Wennberg has been a perfect fit since the trade. The two-way center is crucial at even strength, even though he has only one assist in the playoffs. His line has yet to be on for a goal against in the postseason and Wennberg has been a staple on the penalty-killing unit that is perfect in the first three games of the second round (15-for-15).

“He’s been a really good pickup,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. “Really good addition. Came in and filled a void in that spot. Skates, is on his edges well, really good with the puck, great vision. Smart, two-way centerman. He’s kind of been as advertised, to me. What we thought we were getting, as advertised. He’s done just a really good job for us.”