On May 16, the New York Rangers triumphed over the Carolina Hurricanes, thanks to a Herculean effort from Chris Kreider, who scored a natural hat trick in the third period to clinch the series and propel the Rangers into the Eastern Conference Final.
While the Rangers have enjoyed success, much of it has been driven by standout performances from key players like Kreider. However, to sustain their momentum and increase their chances of advancing further, the Rangers need more offensive contributions. In particular, the line of Will Cuylle, Alex Wennberg, and Kaapo Kakko, despite strong defensive play, must step up their offensive game.
Balancing Defense and Offense: The Cuylle-Wennberg-Kakko Line’s Challenge
According to Money Puck, the Cuylle-Wennberg-Kakko line boasts an impressive 69.8% expected goals percentage, tying them for first among forward lines that have played at least 45 minutes together in these playoffs. They have been on the ice for three expected goals for (xGF) and only 1.3 expected goals against (xGA). Additionally, they have contributed to two Rangers’ goals while conceding just one.
While this shutdown third line has been effective defensively, the Rangers’ two losses in the series revealed a critical issue: when their star players fail to produce, the team struggles to secure victories. This highlights the need for the Cuylle-Wennberg-Kakko line to maintain their defensive prowess as well as step up offensively to support the team’s success.
Time for Kakko to Shine: Offensive Production Key Against Florida
The Rangers drafted Kakko with the second overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, but he has not yet developed into the star player they had hoped for. He has 117 points in 300 career games and nine points in 39 playoff games. While he hasn’t met the offensive expectations, he has emerged as one of the team’s best defensive forwards. This upcoming series against the Florida Panthers represents a crossroads for him.
At just 23 years old, Kakko still has the potential to improve offensively and become a great two-way player, but time is running out for the Finn. His puck possession skills and ability to win board battles are exceptional, helping the team maintain offensive pressure and exit the defensive zone. However, these strengths rarely translate into goals.
A key issue for Kakko is his tendency to hold onto the puck too long and avoid making plays to the…
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