Rangers’ recent drop in goals due to ‘perimeter hockey’: Jonny Brodzinski

Peter Laviolette has said all along that any lack of production offensively hasnt been due to a lack of opportunities generated by the Rangers.

Vincent Trocheck told The Post on Thursday that hes not concerned about the offense, despite the Blueshirts topping two goals just four times across their past 12 games.

But after their win against the Lightning on Wednesday, center Jonny Brodzinski said that one reason for the drop in goals might revolve around the Rangers trying to play perimeter hockey.

We have a lot of skill in here, Brodzinski said, and I think sometimes, that kind of takes over a little bit. Playing a little bit too much perimeter hockey, trying to make the perfect play, where sometimes just throwing that garbage puck on net and find somebody backdoor.

We need to do a little bit more of that. Were gonna start putting more pucks in the back of the net.

Jimmy Vesey celebrates with the bench after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Getty ImagesIn their most recent win, Jimmy Veseys first goal came from throwing the puck toward Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy with his backhand instead of trying to slide a pass across the ice.

Then, later in the game, Brodzinski didnt hesitate when firing a shot toward the net when a pass from the corner reached his stick.

The Rangers have compiled the seventh-most scoring chances (1,160) and the 11th-most high-danger chances (469) in the NHL this season, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Their 7-2 victory against the Senators entering the All-Star break when the Blueshirts recorded five goals in the second period and their four-goal third period against the Ducks earlier that week reflected snapshots of when the offense clicked like it did earlier in the year, when the Rangers scored four or more goals in 13 of their first 28 games.

Itll take time to rediscover their rhythm, to ensure that those bursts in Ottawa and Anaheim become something sustainable and not flukes.

Perhaps Brodzinski pinpointed a solution, with the latest chance to test that coming Friday against a Blackhawks team with the third-worst goals against per 60 minutes (3.02) and second-most scoring chances against per 60 minutes (32.43) this season, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Rangers center Jonny Brodzinski Jason Szenes for New York PostWeve gotta find ways to get it in the back of the net, fire up the power play again, score power play, five-on-five contributions coming, Laviolette said Wednesday. We had some short-handed chances that we didnt connect on, and so I think we just gotta stay with it and be confident.

Usually, I find when shooting percentage is low, if you stay with it and try to maybe just talk about areas where you can be a little bit better, you can get out of that and send it in a different direction.

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Check out more newslettersLaviolette didnt reveal who his goalie would against the Blackhawks, but what unfolds over the next 24 hours will reveal the reality of the short-term situation.

If Igor Shesterkin starts Friday, itll mark his first appearance since Jan. 26.

The Blueshirts have won three consecutive games with backup Jonathan Quick in net.

He has emerged as the stronger option for most of the season, with Shesterkin struggling his save percentage (.899) and goals against average (2.86) remain on track to become career-lows.

The tentative plan all along, Laviolette said Wednesday, was for Quick to start the pair of games after the All-Star break as Shesterkin worked with goaltending coach Benoit Allaire.