CALGARY, Alberta — The Rangers’ poor performance in the faceoff circle has been a notorious trait in recent years.
Not only has it been an issue by itself, but it has seemingly fed into some of the team’s other bad habits, such as enduring stretches in games without much puck possession and in turn, extended shifts on their heels in the defensive zone.
From 2017-18 to 2022-23, the Rangers had the third-lowest faceoff win percentage in the NHL (47.2), ahead of only the Sabres and Kraken, a team that only entered the league two years ago.
But the Blueshirts are off to an encouraging start at the dots despite Tuesday night’s 39.6 percent showing en route to their 3-1 win over the Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome.
“There’s things that we wanted to try and improve on this year coming into it and [faceoffs] was one of the things that we talked about,” head coach Peter Laviolette said after morning skate on Tuesday. “When we picked the staff, there was reasons why we picked certain people and certainly Michael Peca has had success in the faceoff circle.
“[He’s] able to help players I think with regard to that and so there’s a lot that goes into it, the preparation for a game with faceoffs and working out on the ice. So far there’s bee early success.”
Peca, who is 14 years removed from his 14-year playing career, has worked day after day with the Rangers’ faceoff takers.
They do rapid-fire drills often, where Peca will drop puck after puck at full speed before changing out players.
The 49-year-old Peca finished with an impressive career faceoff win percentage of 51.4, and he’s certainly had some tips to lend this Rangers team.
“He’s brought a lot, especially on faceoffs,” said Barclay Goodrow, who had only taken four faceoffs (50 FOW percentage) entering Tuesday’s game due to the addition of Nick Bonino on the fourth line. “I think early on, you can see those improving. He was a guy that I personally love the way he played, so just to be able to learn from a guy like that, it’s great to have.”
After Chris Kreider and Adam Fox donned the A’s on their jerseys through the first five games, Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad wore the letters Tuesday night.
The Rangers are scheduled to practice Wednesday in Edmonton before they face the Oilers on Thursday night.
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