Rangers running out of answers to spark dreadful power-play unit

That second unit’s structure possesses a blend of veteran and youth, with Kreider historically a strong net-front presence on the top power-play group and the pair of young forwards — Othmann and Perreault — both talented enough to provide a spark. 

“When power-play two gets out there, we’re just trying to focus on just getting shots toward the net, recovering pucks and just keep on firing right back at the net,” Brodzinski said. “It’s the only way that we’re really gonna get out of this slump, is stop getting east-west with it and just start putting a lot more pucks at the net.” 

Brodzinski has tried to help with Perreault’s adjustment to facing “quicker” NHL penalty-kill units, when he’ll likely have limited time and space to operate along the walls.

Jonny Brodzinski skates during the Rangers-Devils game on April 5, 2025.

On Sunday, Brodzinski pointed out to Perreault that he’ll be able to provide support in most scenarios from his spot in the bumper, and compared to college, where Perreault spent the rest of this season before inking his entry-level deal with the Rangers last week, those outlets will serve as one of the only ways to avoid defensive pressure. 

Othmann, too, thinks he can carve out a role on the power play over time, but told The Post “we’ll see what happens” across the rest of the season.

It wouldn’t be “a shock” — he has learned to not be surprised by anything in both the AHL and NHL — and would validate the belief Othmann has in his potential. 

There’s no easy solution to their most pressing dilemma as the Rangers remain outside of the playoff picture — four points behind the Canadiens for the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot entering Sunday night — with only six games left to change that outlook.

They’ve tried shuffling.

They’ve tried using Perreault on the second unit. Will Cuylle has earned some power-play time with that group, too.

Brennan Othmann skates during the Rangers-Devils game on April 5, 2025.

They even reunited with Miller via trade and added him right to the top group, too. 

Recently, though, Laviolette has certainly dropped hints suggesting the second unit impressed him the most. The more “effective” unit.

The more “noticeable” unit.

And at a juncture of the year when it’ll become easy to press, at a time when each empty power play carries amplified stakes and consequences, the common denominator of any noticeable power-play group — at least in the eyes of Brodzinski — is, somehow, finding a way to keep “simplifying” everything. 

“It’s not rocket science, I don’t think,” Brodzinski added when asked about noticeable power plays. “All the most successful power plays in the entire league, it’s just shoot the pucks and recovering pucks. So you have one more guy than them, so it should be an advantage.”