Young Rangers duo off to disappointing start — and how Mike Sullivan thinks they can get right

Alexis Lafrenière has one goal in his first eight games of the season. The same for Will Cuylle.

For a duo that combined to score 37 goals last season — with more expected this season from the young players — it’s been a disappointing start.

And it’s at least part of the reason the Rangers have been so inconsistent on offense in the early part of this year.

“I think there’s another level to their game,’’ head coach Mike Sullivan said of Lafrenière and Cuylle following Wednesday’s practice in Tarrytown. 

For Lafrenière, who turned 24 earlier this month, it’s part of a longer regression after scoring 28 goals two seasons ago.

“Just keep going, keep shooting,” Lafrenière said of his mentality despite the lack of goals. “I’m getting chances; they’re not going in.”

Lafrenière trails only Mika Zibanejad with 22 shots on goal for the Rangers, while Cuylle is sixth on the team with 18. 

“Some of the discussions we’ve had is to try to encourage them to get to the interior a little bit more,’’ Sullivan said of the efforts to spark scoring with Lafrenière and Cuylle. “It’s more of a mindset of trying to get inside the dots, whether it be going to the net — and staying at the net — or off the rush.” 

Sullivan wants them to put themselves in better spots to have more opportunities to take advantage of mistakes.

“They’re talented enough to have the ability to make that next play and score,’’ Sullivan said. 

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Sullivan briefly got on his team during a power-play drill in the second half of Wednesday’s lengthy practice.

He said that was unrelated to the message he delivered to his players for several minutes at center ice following practice.

“That was different,’’ Sullivan said. “That was between me and the team.” 

Of the outburst during the power play, Sullivan said, “We’re trying to get better on both sides of special teams. Our penalty kill has to pay more attention to detail.”

He wants the penalty kill to be as strong as the power play, even in workouts.

“Sometimes I think there’s a tendency, for whatever reason, in practice in special teams for the penalty kill to maybe give the power play more of an opportunity to have success,’’ Sullivan said. “We look at it differently. We want our penalty kill to compete extremely hard against our power play and push them to be at their very best.’’

For a power-play unit that hasn’t produced much, Sullivan would like them to have a more aggressive approach when it comes to getting pucks on net in order to make something happen.

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Igor Shesterkin continues to lead the NHL in goals against average (1.17) and save percentage (.957).

“He’s one of the elite goalies in the league,’’ Sullivan said. “As a coach, sometimes you look at the net and just his presence alone, there’s not a lot to shoot at.”

And he credited the defense for aiding in Shesterkin’s strong start.

“I think it goes hand-in-hand,’’ Sullivan said, noting the team has done a solid job of limiting shot quality and second-chance opportunities.