A player who got off to a good start for the New York Rangers this season is Alexis Lafreniere. The former 2020 top pick came out strong by scoring the first goal of the season in a 5-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 12.

Rangers coach Peter Laviolette was patient enough to allow Lafreniere to find chemistry with Artemi Panarin on the second line. Initially, they began the season with Filip Chytil, who remains out with a suspected concussion since Nov. 2.

Once Vincent Trocheck took Chytil’s place centering the second line, they really took off. While Panarin deserved most of the ink for his Rangers’ franchise record-breaking point streak to start the season, both Lafreniere and Trocheck have done their part to make scoring unit successful.

Trocheck has played extremely well by producing offense while continuing to win faceoffs at a high clip. His 63.4 winning percentage ranks first in the league. With six goals and 19 assists for 25 points to rank second behind Panarin in team scoring, the 30-year-old veteran is playing some of the best hockey of his career. He’s had a big impact on the Rangers’ 19-7-1 record that has them atop the Metropolitan Division.

Lafreniere scored well during November. At one point, he had three goals and four assists for seven points over a four-game stretch to give him 11 points (7-4-11) in his first 14 games this season.

Since getting his eighth goal in a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 22, the 22-year-old forward has been in a slump. Following a 7-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 12, that made it 10 games without a goal for Lafreniere. His longest drought of the season.

Related: Rangers Taken To School By Maple Leafs

While he has four assists during this stretch, Lafreniere isn’t finishing. There’s been moments when he’s been unlucky due to goalies robbing him. However, he has to snap out of it soon. The Rangers need him to score goals. After Panarin’s team-leading 12 even strength goals, Lafreniere ranks second on the Rangers with seven goals at even strength. Fourteen of his 16 points have come at even strength.

What Makes Lafreniere Most Effective

What makes Lafreniere most effective is when he hounds the puck on the forecheck and drives the net. Aside from missing a few scoring chances, such as a backhand attempt, he missed wide against the Leafs, Lafreniere hasn’t been as much of a net front presence in recent games. He must get back to simplifying his approach. It can’t always be about skilled plays with Panarin. He’s best when he plays gritty and hustles.

Despite his recent scoring slump, Lafreniere is still tied for third on the Rangers in goals with eight. Fortunately, Mika Zibanejad has heated up at the right time. After scoring only twice in his first 17 games, Zibanejad has six goals over the last 10 games. That includes power-play goals in the last two. The Rangers’ number one center is 6-6-12 in the previous 10 games.

Kreider Without a Goal In Five

Lafreniere isn’t the only key Ranger struggling to score. Chris Kreider is without a goal over his last five games and has only lit the lamp once in the previous eight. The team leader in power-play goals (7) needs to get going. His 14 goals trail only Panarin’s 16 for the team lead.

Perhaps Laviolette should consider moving up Lafreniere onto the top line to see if it can spark both him and Kreider. Lavolette has mostly stuck with his set lines. He moved Blake Wheeler back up to the first line. Wheeler responded with his best game of the season by scoring twice against the Leafs. When the Anaheim Ducks visit Madison Square Garden on Friday night, chances are good that he’ll remain up with Zibanejad and Kreider while Lafreniere sticks with Trocheck and Panarin.

Vesey A Key Player for Laviolette

Without Kaapo Kakko, Laviolette seems comfortable using Jimmy Vesey when the team needs a lift. Considering how well he’s played, the honest working 30-year-old veteran has earned the Laviolette’s trust. With six goals and three assists for nine points, He remains on the fourth line with Barclay Goodrow and Tyler Pitlick. However, Vesey can be plugged anywhere. If the game situation calls for it, Laviolette will give him additional ice time.

Nick Bonino remains the third center between Will Cuylle and Jonny Brodzinski. With Brodzinski able to provide a boost, they remain a solid checking line that’s responsible defensively. Bonino remains dependable defensively and on faceoffs. Cuylle supplies the grit and physicality.

With the schedule again picking up starting on Dec. 15 when the Ducks visit, the Rangers need more scoring from both Lafreniere and Kreider. They also can use more consistent play from Igor Shesterkin. The Rangers visit the Boston Bruins on Saturday and then are in Toronto for a rematch with the Leafs on Monday, Dec. 18. Shesterkin has to perform better.

Islanders Are Coming

Don’t look now. But the Rangers’ division lead is down to four points. That’s right. The New York Islanders are coming. Winners of four straight, they’re in second place with a 14-7-7 record. The Rangers still have a comfortable lead in the first tiebreaker with 16 regulation wins. That’s six better than the Islanders.

The classic rivals meet four times during the season. They don’t play until Feb. 18, 2024, when the Rangers visit the Islanders. The second meeting is on Mar. 17 at MSG on Saint Patrick’s Day. The Rangers and Islanders play on Apr. 9 at UBS Arena. The fourth and final meeting is on Apr. 13 at MSG.