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Rangers Revive Five-Forward Power Play, Shift Zibanejad to Point With Fox Out

Coach Mike Sullivan reinstalled the unconventional look at practice with a new configuration to steady a unit missing its quarterback.

Overview

  • Adam Fox remains on long-term injured reserve with an upper-body injury suffered Nov. 29 and is expected to miss several weeks despite resuming skating.
  • After going 0-for-12 on the power play over five games and conceding a short-handed goal in Chicago, the staff moved away from the initial setup midgame before revising it again in practice.
  • Friday’s practice put Mika Zibanejad at the point, shifted Artemi Panarin back to the left flank, and elevated Alexis Lafreniere to the first unit in place of Will Cuylle.
  • Rookie defenseman Scott Morrow briefly ran the point during the Blackhawks game as Sullivan tested alternatives to the five-forward alignment.
  • New York has struggled to generate chances with an NHL-low 72 power-play opportunities in 32 games and ranks near the bottom in goals per game, intensifying pressure on special teams.