Gabe Perreault reacts to move down to Rangers second power-play unit

At the time, it served as an unusual move.Gabe Perreault, the former first-round pick and one of the most productive Rangers players since the Olympic break, slid down to their second power-play unit when J.T.

Miller — the struggling Blueshirts captain — returned from injured reserve last week.Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.

Head coach Mike Sullivan insisted it wasn’t a demotion, even if the optics suggested that. Perreault said that he wasn’t surprised by the decision, though, citing the success that the top power-play unit has generated before as a reason why. “Not really,” Perreault told The Post on Monday when asked if he was surprised.“Those guys have been really good all year.

They’re out there for a reason, and when they’re out there, we have a lot of trust in those guys.I mean, power play’s been one of the best in the league for a while now. “Just whenever I get my chance, be ready to go and try to not slow them down too much.” Miller has “been a big part of the success that this power play has enjoyed,” Sullivan said Friday, and included his name alongside Vincent Trocheck, Mika Zibanejad and Adam Fox along the mainstays on the top power-play unit.

Injuries and a lack of production — just 14 goals and 38 points through 52 games — haven’t jeopardized that.Perreault carried a four-game point streak into Monday night’s game against the Kings at the Garden, and his 10 points since March 7 rank seventh in the NHL, according to the team.

The first-round pick in 2023 finally started to carve out a consistent role on the first line, too, alongside Zibanejad and Alexis Lafrenière, too. Still, even after getting moved to the second power-play unit, Perreault found a way to set up a goal, hovering down the left wing as Noah Laba crossed into the zone before connecting the Blueshirts center and watching as ...