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Rangers Kickoff Pre-Season Games Tuesday Against The Islanders |
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The Rangers began on-ice workouts Sunday, shifting from training to game action in camp. Even though it's just a few days in, some interesting story lines may already be developing. A few of those will be on display Tuesday in the pre-season opener against the Devils.
The top two lines in camp to date - caveats noted because JT Miller, Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan have not yet skated with the team due to the World Cup - have been:
Kreider-Zibinejad-Buchnevich
Vesey-Hayes-Nash
AV has been effusive in his praise of that first trio, who will skate together Tuesday, saying Sunday: "If there were anything like they were today in practice, they're going to be a handful. They were by far the best line and the three best players today in practice. Both offensively and defensively, they made a lot of things happen. It was fun to watch. They're definitely a line we're going to keep together, probably a line that will probably be playing in the next two games. They were excellent today. All three used their skill, their speed and made some great things happen offensively, so it was fun to watch."
Some of that praise has to be taken with a grain of salt due to the level of competition, but it's clearly better than having to criticize them at this point. Kreider is the veteran of the line and also can speak Russian, which should help Buch settle in. CK20's ability to converse in Buch's native tongue could make for interesting exchanges on the ice. Zib has immediately displayed his talent so far in camp, helping his transition to a new team.
If Vesey-Hayes-Nash remain together, which looks to be the case for Thursday's contest, that line gives New York a big trio up front. Vesey is 6-2, 201, Hayes is 6-5, 227, while Nash is 6-4, 220 pounds. That breadth should help that line cycle the puck and create traffic in front. After struggling last year and drawing AV's ire, Hayes is already off on the right foot, as AV said Hayes was the most improved player in terms of conditioning heading into training camp. Of course, that sounds great and we have heard it before, but Hayes needed to have a strong start to camp and carry that forward to the season, so he looks to be doing the right things so far.
Lineup for the Islanders game:
I already see people up in arms over Glass and Lapierre, but you knew that would get a chance, so why not just do it early and then hopefully rule them out.
NYR special teams:
PP units are Kreider, Zibanejad, Buchnevich, Pirri and Clendening is the first grouping with Kovacs, Brown, Stromwall, Skjei and Bodie the second. Pirri is known to have a good shot, so I understand giving him a shot on the top unit. But I worry about having a defensively challenged forward at the point due to the potential of a shorthanded breakout. I am really looking forward to seeing Kovacs and Stromwall together in a preseason game with a pair of defensemen that have offensive upside.
The PK: Girardi, Staal, Jensen, Hrivik and Lapierre, Glass, McIlrath, Gilmour. Interested in seeing Hrivik and Jensen together same with seeing McIlrath and Gilmour.
If those first trios stick together, they could mean a Miller-Stepan-Zucc line. If these nine hold true, expect the fourth line to be a true checking / defensive line, which gives Josh Jooris a bit of an edge in the battle to open the season as the fourth line center. Jesper Fast likely opens the year on that line with the third member coming from Grabner, Hrivik, Jensen, Glass Etc. To me, Grabner is the favorite to earn that spot.
AV said McDonagh, Stepan and Miller will rejoin practice Wednesday but not play Thursday. Lundqvist will rejoin the team and practice Saturday but it remains to be seen when he will dress in a game.
Per Steve Zipay, this is the 2nd NYR group (with maybe a couple of changes for game against the Devils on Thursday):
Raanta/Halverson; Vesey-Hayes-Nash; Grabner-McRaue-Fast; Gerbe-Fogarty-Carey and Tambellini-Gettinger-Ronning. Figure two of these D won't dress: Klein-Holden; Day-Hughes; Andersson-Summers and Graves-Paliotta.
From this group, looking forward to seeing Grabner and Fast together, Gerbe in a Rangers jersey along with Tambellini up front. On D, seeing how Day plays in a pre-season game, same with Andersson along with if the growth from Graves carries forward from Hartford to New York.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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