Rangers’ fourth line a potential playoff difference-maker

NHL

By Mollie Walker

April 10, 2023 | 4:24pm

The acquisitions of Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane didn’t just add star power to the Rangers lineup, it made it more balanced.

That has been one of the most underrated benefits of the Rangers’ trade deadline moves.

Because by plugging Tarasenko and Kane into the top six, Jimmy Vesey and Barclay Goodrow – two players who had been filling in the top nine for a good portion of the season –  were moved to the fourth unit to round out the lineup.

Suddenly, the Rangers’ roster didn’t look as top heavy as it once was.

Here were two forwards, who often carried top-six responsibilities this year, relegated to the fourth line with Tyler Motte, who Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury sought and acquired for the second straight season.

Having a fourth line that can contribute offensively more than last season could be a major difference for the Rangers in the playoffs.

“There’s similarities there,” Motte told The Post when asked to compare his line with Kevin Rooney and Ryan Reaves last season to his current linemates. “I think from the offensive side, I think we’ve had a little bit more pop recently than we did last year. But again, it’s not always about points, especially come playoff time. It’s about finding ways to do your job and win games.

“The three of us last year did a pretty good job of that at times. Obviously, you still want to be able to chip in more offensively. That’s probably a little bit of my focus without giving up responsibility on the D side of the puck. It’s nice to chip in and take a little bit of pressure off our top guys.”

Motte scored two goals during the Rangers’ run to the conference final last season.

He skated on a fourth line with Rooney and Reaves in six of the Rangers’ 20 playoffs games, while also logging ice time with Goodrow and Dryden Hunt, as well as a couple games on a unit with Alexis Lafreniere and Filip Chytil.

Neither Reaves nor Rooney scored in the postseason, but their line with Motte was much more physically inclined.

This year, the Motte-Goodrow-Vesey combo has already shown an ability to make an impact on the scoreboard.

Before Monday’s matchup with the Sabres, the Rangers had collected three goals from the fourth line over the previous three games.

Motte said his line feels like they’re on the same page and that’s been evident in the way they’ve been playing lately.

In 148:01 of ice time together, Motte, Vesey and Goodrow have been on the ice for seven Rangers goals and six against, according to Natural Stat Trick.

They’ve out-attempted…