Rebuilt Rangers top line is spurring a post-Olympics hot streak

The Rangers reconvened after the Olympic stoppage wanting to find some successful combinations that had been largely absent through much of a disappointing last-place season.Head coach Mike Sullivan seemingly has found one that works with the hot play out of the break of the unit with Mika Zibanejad centering inconsistent winger Alexis Lafrenière and rookie Gabe Perreault.Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.

That trio has combined for seven goals and seven assists over back-to-back wins over the Flyers and the Flames entering Thursday’s game in Winnipeg.“I think Mika’s line as it’s been the last handful of games has been really good,” Sullivan said after Tuesday’s 4-0 win over Calgary at MSG.“Those guys, they all have really good offensive instincts.

They’re a little bit different in how they play, but I think that’s been a little bit complementary.”With leading scorer Artemi Panarin dealt to the Kings before the Olympic break and captain J.T.Miller presently on injured reserve, Sullivan has been forced to try different top six combinations up front.Lafrenière, who played much of the season on a line alongside Panarin and Vincent Trocheck, has totaled five goals and eight points in his last four games, including his second career hat trick against the Flames.The 20-year-old Perreault — the team’s 2023 first-round pick — has gone 3-4-7 over his past five to match his goal total over his first 31 NHL appearances.“I think the way [Lafrenière] has been and even Gabe, I don’t think the mistakes get to them the same way maybe when you have that confidence,” said Zibanejad, who notched his 800th career point Tuesday night.

“As their linemate, I don’t mind [mistakes].Make plays, make mistakes and we learn from it.

But you have to keep playing.“So they’ve been awesome.Happy for Laf to get that hat trick.

It’s been f...