SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Gabe Perreault is starting to hit his stride as he gears up for the 38th game of his NHL career.
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 Saturday.
The Rangers did not practice line rushes Friday, so it is unclear where Miller will slot into the lineup.
Prior to his injury, Miller was on the top line with Zibanejad and Perreault.
It’s possible Miller will replace Adam Edstrom on the left wing of the second line, which could bump the big-bodied Swede back down to the fourth line and edge Jaroslav Chemlar or Jonny Brodzinski out of the lineup.
Asked if there is concern the power play change will disrupt Perreault’s progress or be seen as a demotion, Sullivan was blunt with his answer.
“No,” he said. “Because I don’t think he would look at it as a demotion. Gabe is playing extremely well right now, so we’ll continue to work with him to try to continue to help him grow and develop his game, and we’ll put him in situations where we think it sets him up for success.”
The Rangers are scheduled to be off Sunday before they return to game action Monday against the Kings.
Artemi Panarin will return to Madison Square Garden for the first time since the Blueshirts traded him to Los Angeles on Feb. 4.