In a way, it turned into an audition of sorts for Scott Morrow.
Adam Fox, always the quarterback of the Rangers’ first power-play unit, remained on long-term injured reserve with his upper-body injury.
Artemi Panarin, always a staple on the top unit, didn’t end up playing during Thursday’s 2-1 overtime win over the Blues due to an illness.
And after the Blueshirts’ recent attempts at operating with five forwards during man advantages backfired, Morrow slid into the spot at the point and impressed head coach Mike Sullivan in St. Louis.
“I did,” Sullivan said Thursday when asked if he liked what he saw from Morrow on the power play. “I thought he made some real good decisions up there. I thought when there were opportunities to put the puck on the net, he was willing to shoot the puck. I thought he did a real good job managing the puck up there.”
Still, it didn’t lead to a goal. The Rangers’ second unit produced a tally at the end of the power play Thursday, but the top group has still remained silent at five-on-four since Nov. 28 against the Bruins.
Their strength year after year after year has failed to materialize through at least the opening portion of the 2025-26 campaign, and Fox’s injury one day after the Boston win didn’t help, either.
But for one night, Morrow provided a glimpse of what he could contribute if given an extended look on the top unit until Fox returns.
He impressed during training camp but couldn’t snag one of the final spots on the Rangers’ blue line, with the second-round pick in 2021 — acquired from the Hurricanes in the deal that sent K’Andre Miller to Carolina — instead logging consistent time with Hartford before getting his first chance in mid-November.
A cameo has transformed into an 11-game stint for Morrow, though that could change as early as Dec. 27 when Fox is eligible to return.
He skated with the Rangers for the first time since the injury Tuesday during their morning skate while wearing a red noncontact jersey. When Fox returns, the Rangers will again be forced to adjust their blue line. When Panarin returns, the Blueshirts will again be forced to adjust their power play.
But Morrow’s continued auditions — first with a defensive pairing, then finally with the top power-play unit — have served as his chance to carve out a role beyond when they arrive at those junctures.
In his first game back since another call-up from AHL Hartford, as he looks to finally stick with the Rangers, Brennan Othmann collected a shot on goal, two hits, a blocked shot and two penalty minutes on the fourth line.
“I didn’t mind Otter at all,” Sullivan said Thursday. “I thought he played a north-south game, and when he plays with those two guys, that’s a pretty good energy line. He can skate. He’s got a little edge to him. He has a little rat in his game when he wants to play that way. He can get under people’s skin. I thought he brought us some energy tonight.”
The Rangers lead the NHL with 13 road wins this season and are tied for first in the league with 27 road points — compared to just four and 11 at the Garden this season, respectively. … The NHL’s roster freeze went into effect at midnight, meaning that no player can be traded or waived Dec. 28.
