The powerplay is clicking with Bryan McCabe in the fold

The Rangers powerplay has been hot and cold all season, though that is an improvement over year's past. After years of absolute embarrassment and baffling decisions to not get the puck on net, the Rangers' powerplay has been relatively good lately. A difference in philosophy has led to recent improvements, including a wonderful display against the Islanders where the unit converted on three of their five chances. Bryan McCabe has been a major part of the success that the unit has been having, and acquiring him has proven to be yet another smart move by GM Glen Sather.

The Rangers shipped out Tim Kennedy and a 3rd round pick to South Florida in exchange for McCabe, and the dividends have been payed immediately. Manning the point on the powerplay, McCabe has been a dual threat for the Rangers. The first is the most obvious and occurs during almost every man advantage that the Rangers receive. That is McCabe's hard, low shot, which is a welcome addition that has been evidently missing in previous units. His ability to take a shot and get it on net makes Rangers fans thank the Hockey Gods that we don't have Paul Mara anymore. McCabe's shot can get on net and, as he showed last night, can score or in other instances get rebounds in front of the net to create more chances.

McCabe also brings another advantage to the team. Because he is a threat to shoot from the point, some teams have had McCabe covered or shadowed by one of their penalty killers. This gives the Rangers another advantage even though they are losing one of their main weapons. This opens up the ice down low, leaving three penalty killers to defend against four attackers. Between Marian Gaborik, Vinny Prospal, Erik Christensen, Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, and so on and so forth, the Rangers have more than enough skill and speed to take advantage of the open space left available down low. The threat of McCabe shooting lets the forwards look for that back-door pass or one-timer that would not have been available when the 5-on-4 was taking place.

The Rangers powerplay has gotten better both in percentage and how they look on the ice. Before acquiring McCabe, the unit was firing at just above 17%. That is an average number, and if a team hopes for playoff success that number must be better. After the deadline, the Rangers powerplay has been converting just over 24% of their chances which is a significant improvement. Even if McCabe doesn't stay after this season, he provides a veteran presence on the youngest blueline in the NHL. He adds a weapon that the team didn't have before and badly needed, while Sather made use of his mastery with trades yet again. Tim Kennedy has recently been called up by the Panthers and has suited up for three games, while a third round pick is a small price to pay for immediate help. If McCabe plays his cards right, he could stay on Broadway past this season to provide that presence until a prospect or younger player is ready to do so. Even if he is not retained, the powerplay issue has been addressed for the year, putting to rest the shouts of "SHOOT!" from the Garden faithful.

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