The Rangers return to action after three days off, facing the Panthers tonight at MSG. The contest also marks the return of Jesper Fast, who had missed seven games with his shoulder injury. Associated with Fast rightfully sliding into the lineup is a host of subplots, many of which have Rangers twitter and the blogosphere up in arms.
First, who does Fast replace. I wrote a few days ago that Fast's return likely would come at the expense of either Pavel Buchnevich or Jimmy Vesey and not Tanner Glass. My reasoning was that Glass had brought something lacking to the lineup - grit and effort - which likely afforded him a spot over the pair of more talented wingers. In addition, I felt that Buchnevich and not Vesey would sit due to Buchnevich's inconsistency along with Vesey being better suited to a fourth line role, if that's where he slotted.
When describing why Buchnevich was out, coach Alain Vigneault said: "I would say a little bit inconsistent. There's some plays that I need him to make, especially in our end, that would make his line and his linemates spend less time in our zone. But consistency is one thing that I think he needs to work on. He's a young player. He's gonna figure it out." All of that is what we had heard before. If you thought AV was going to sit Glass, then you just having been paying attention.
You can argue it's his affinity for Glass that has provided him a spot but Glass has earned it with his effort. The puck possession numbers will never truly be there and he lacks the elite skill level of a Buchnevich but he is better suited to the fourth line. The same can be said about Fast, though the plan for tonight doesn't appear to jibe with that, which I will cover later.
Now, if you want to use the argument that Larry Brooks made today, on that one I can argue. Everyone overreacted to his tweet about there is no rational reason for Buch to sit. But read his column today and the talk. In it, he admits Glass has been one of the team's more effective players in the five games since his promotion. In addition, he states that Buch has been inconsistent. But he postulates that Buch should play because this is the time when AV and the Rangers can experiment to see what line combinations work and have Buch work on "his craft and gain experience" for the grinding games in the playoffs. On that, I can't argue. Use these last 12 games to refine and tweak and learn about certain players knowing that you are in essence locked into the first Wild Card spot.
Second, Fast's line placement. I saw a few people question if Fast should be the one to sit. Are you crazy? He does all the little things a winning teams needs to win. If there was any doubt, read the two quotes below from Ryan McDonagh and AV and it should be orrery clear how highly thought of and important he is to this team.
"I think he's starting to realize - I hope he's starting to realize - he's a pretty good example of how we want to play," McDonagh said. "Guys really love the way he battles and competes. He creates a lot of energy and definitely comes up with the puck for us, whether it's in the D zone or the O zone."
"He's just a real dependable player," Vigneault said of Fast. "He knows where to be when he doesn't have the puck. He's a real good penalty killer and probably one of the best shot blockers on the team. He competes. He just goes out and works hard and gives everything he has all the time."
Vigneault has used Fast on just about every line in every situation this season. As noted on NHL.com, Fast has spent the most time this year with Oscar Lindberg. According to stats.hockeyanalysis.com, 300:32 of Fast's 703:02 of five-on-five ice time has been with Lindberg. Fast has skated with five other forwards for at least 100 minutes, with Buchnevich coming in at 93:28. Plus, Fast is also second among Rangers forwards this season in shorthanded ice time per game at 1:33, behind just Michael Grabner. So, even though Fast has skated with other forwards, most of his time has been with Lindberg, so why are you playing him on the third line?
In practice, it was:
Chris Kreider - Derek Stepan - Mats Zuccarello
J.T. Miller - Mika Zibanejad - Rick Nash
Michael Grabner - Kevin Hayes - Jesper Fast
Tanner Glass - Oscar Lindberg - Jimmy Vesey
Vesey isn't a true fourth liner, yet AV has placed him there rather than Fast. Second, why are you breaking up your most effective line of Grabner-Hayes-Milller? Maybe AV is experimenting as I noted above that he should, but then play Vesey on a scoring line and Fast on the fourth line, since that's likely y be his placement in the postseason. You know what you have in Fast, if you are experimenting, then see what you have in Vesey.
On the blueline, Dan Girardi practiced with the team for the first time since being shutdown to deal with an ankle injury he suffered blocking a shot last month. Despite practicing, G will not play tonight against Florida or tomorrow against Minnesota. Girardi said he will be ready to play 20 minutes and not have to be eased in, which likely should come Tuesday at NJ or home Wednesday against the Islanders. Does this mean AV will break up the effective duo of Marc Staal-McDonagh, placing G there or will be be smart and use G on the third pairing opposite Brady Skjei, replacing Steven Kampfer? We all know G will play, regardless if many think he should, the only question is where. If you use on the third pair, he gets sheltered a bit, plus, deploy him in the penalty kill to bump up his minutes and you have seemingly the perfect solution. Hopefully, AV sees this.
Kevin Klein, who has missed 11 straight games with back spasms, skated Wednesday and Thursday on his own, then joined his teammates at the end of practice in a non-contact jersey. He is not ready to return but inching closer. What AV does with Klein will draw a ton of scrutiny. He wasn't playing up to his former level and likely deserved to be a healthy scratch when back. I could see rotating him in to give Staal and McDonagh, the Brendan Smith-Nick Holden pairing and Skjei days off down the stretch, but nothing more. The blue line depth should be utilized effectively so you go into the playoffs at close to 100 per cent. But we know AV hasn't lived up to his word in the past when he said certain players will get periodic rest, so why do we think he will start now?
Henrik Lundqvist, who has missed the last three games with a hip injury suffered against Florida and slated be sidelined 2-3 weeks, skated Wednesday and again on Thursday before practice. Vigneault said Lundqvist would be skating all weekend and into Monday, including Friday before the team's morning skate. The good news is that Lundqvist is progressing faster than expected. But with New York where they are on the standings and likely locked into that spot, Lundqvist should be given all the time he needs. If he says he is healthy, give him a few more days to be sure. Have him return at the end of the month with six games or so left, allowing him to use that time to regain his sharpness.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»