Gabe Perreault dropped from Rangers top power-play unit with J.T. Miller set to return
SAINT PAUL, Minn.— Gabe Perreault is starting to hit his stride as he gears up for the 38th game of his NHL career.
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.Skating on the left wing of the Rangers top line alongside Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafrenière, as well as on the top power-play unit, Perreault has collected four goals and nine points in the last six games.
His third consecutive multipoint effort Thursday night in Winnipeg made him just the second Rangers rookie (Adam Fox in 2019-20) in over 30 years to have such a streak.So far this month, the Rangers power play (6-for-16) is ranked second in the NHL at 37.5 percent.And yet, during practice Friday at TRIA Rink, J.T.Miller replaced Perreault on the first power-play unit.“Well, our power play has had a fair amount of success throughout the last few months, and we know we have options on it,” head coach Mike Sullivan said when asked for his reasoning behind the change.
“J.T.has been a big part of the success that this power play has enjoyed.
I mean, it’s top 10 in the league.The options that we have, I think, are obvious, but when you start talking about left shot, right shots, putting players in positions where we can set them up for success, we have certain combinations that we think help us.“Gabe has got some looks there.
[Lafrenière] has been on and off the first unit.The other guys, for the most part, have been mainstays.
[Adam] Fox, Mika [Zibanejad], J.T., [Vincent Trocheck], and then there’s been a lot of moving parts around it based on injuries, how the group is playing, things of that nature.“Nothing’s etched in stone.But, you know, we know what our options are.”Barring an unforeseen circumstance, Sullivan said Miller is expected to return from a five-game absence due to an upper-body injury.
The Rangers will have to activate Miller off injured reserve before the game ...