The Rangers play their second of three infra-divisional games, taking on the Capitals tonight. The game got a little extra juice due to Washington coach Barry Trotz’s comments on Kevin Shattenkirk yesterday. In addition, Henrik Lundqvist, who missed Tuesday’s game with the flu, is expected to be between the pipes.

Trotz had the following comments on ‘Kirk:

Full quote from Barry Trotz on Kevin Shattenkirk: pic.twitter.com/tTo1OvoIm6

— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) December 7, 2017

There’s no question Shattenkirk didn’t play well for Washington. His play, which wasn’t up to his St. Louis standard, contributed to the Caps’ second round ouster. But, Trotz paired him with Brooks Orpik, which was far from the optimal selection for ‘Kirk’s game. Shattenkirk struggled initially in New York; part of that may have been the adaptation period to playing for his hometown team and also adjustment to a new system. Lately, though, he has settled in better, aided by his combination with Brady Skjei.

To me, it’s not what Trotz said, because he wasn’t really off-base. But there was no reason to say it publicly. Take the higher ground and move on. His comments now has given even more juice to a matchup between two teams who have no love lost for one another given their playoff meetings the past several years. If Kirk needed any more motivation, he sure got it yesterday.

The lineup likely remains the same tonight as the win over Pittsburgh, save for the return of Lundqvist. With a second game tomorrow against New Jersey, it will be interesting to see if coach Alain Vigneault goes with Ondrej Pavelec versus the Devils or if he rides Lundqvist on the back-to-back. My view is go back to Pavelec; why overtax Lundqvist, especially coming back from the flu.

If the second line has another average game, AV could mix-and-match between the middle trios. Maybe he moves Zucc up and Nash down to the third line, thereby creating Vesey-Hayes-Zucc and Grabner-Miller-Nash lines. The fourth line needs to remain intact, same for the first line, as David Desharnais has filled in nicely for Mika Zibanejad. This means that if an adjustment is made now, it will occur in the middle-six.

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