Rangers’ Lineup Shuffles Continue in Game 5
The Rangers’ ongoing rotation of right wings on the top line remained a focal point in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Panthers. Filip Chytil reclaimed his position alongside Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, with whom he had previously skated in Games 2 and 3. However, Chytil had been pulled from the lineup for Game 4 due to load management concerns.
But the Rangers’ line combinations didn’t stay the same throughout their 3-2 loss. Head coach Peter Laviolette continued to experiment with different skaters in an attempt to ignite his top-line duo’s performance during five-on-five play.
Laviolette inserted Will Cuylle, Kaapo Kakko, Alexis Lafreniere, and Artemi Panarin into the unit at various points during the game. It was clear that Laviolette was searching for a spark to elevate his lineup’s performance.
Despite the constant changes, Laviolette emphasized that there has been stability within the Rangers’ lineup, even during the playoffs. He mentioned that the return of Blake Wheeler and Filip Chytil provided additional options for the team. Laviolette believed that these additions should have made a positive impact, but acknowledged that the core makeup of the lineup remained stable.
With Chytil back in the lineup, Blake Wheeler became a healthy scratch after making a successful comeback from a leg injury sustained in Game 4. The fourth line consisted of Cuylle, Barclay Goodrow, and Matt Rempe. Jack Roslovic returned to the third line alongside Kakko and Alex Wennberg, while Vincent Trocheck, Panarin, and Lafreniere remained intact on the second line.
Laviolette also made changes to the defense pairs, reverting to the combinations used at the start of the playoffs. K’Andre Miller was reunited with Braden Schneider, and Jacob Trouba returned to the left side of Erik Gustafsson.
Laviolette explained that the decision to switch defense pairs was influenced by the team receiving criticism during their time in Florida. He believed that returning to familiar pairings would provide stability and improve defensive performance. Laviolette was pleased with how the defense played against the Panthers’ top line, as they limited their scoring opportunities.
Looking ahead, the Rangers are scheduled to travel to Sunrise, Florida on Friday. The team will continue to evaluate their lineup options and make adjustments as necessary. Despite the loss in Game 5, Laviolette remains optimistic about the team’s ability to handle lineup changes and maintain stability throughout the playoffs.
