Physical Noah Laba giving Rangers’ third line a ‘courage’ boost it needs

The Rangers seemingly have found a motor for a type of third line the team hasn’t had in some time.

Rookie Noah Laba is a puck-hunting bull whose sheer mass is not only physically imposing but comes at you way faster than you would expect from a 6-foot-3, 214-pound skater.

Becoming harder to play against is the Blueshirts’ ultimate goal, and nothing was more vigorous than the play Laba made to help set up Vladislav Gavrikov’s 2-0 score in the club’s 4-2 win over the Senators on Thursday night in Ottawa.

Trucking over Dennis Gilbert to steal the puck at center ice, the 22-year-old bulldozed into Ottawa’s zone, shook off Senators captain Brady Tkachuk and maintained possession in order to allow the other four Rangers on the ice to set up.

Laba, who didn’t earn a point on the play, wasn’t even on the ice anymore as the puck made its way to Gavrikov.

“It was critical,” head coach Mike Sullivan said of the sequence. “I thought Labs was physical all night. He brings a speed element with his size and his strength. When he brings some physicality to his game I think he’s a lot more effective. I thought the third line [with Will Cuylle and Brett Berard], once again, brought a lot of energy. Their identity is built on speed and tenacity.