The Rangers continue their homestand with a contest against the Sharks on Monday. San Jose is on the metro New York swing with tonight’s game their third in five days, having defeated New Jersey on Friday and lost to the Islanders on Saturday. Following tonight’s action, the Rangers face Arizona at home on Thursday before heading to Montreal for a Saturday contest.
What we have seen lately is likely what we will get tonight. The 11 forwards/seven defensemen alignment that was utilized Saturday and a few other times during the season already probably will be what’s deployed tonight. Scratching Paul Carey and Adam Cracknell - which makes the pick up look even stranger - allows New York to provide additional Ice time to the other two members of what the fourth line, Pavel Buchnevich and Michael Grabner.
Larry Brooks noted this in his column today: “Cutting down to 11 forwards has increased the ice time for Mika Zibanejad, Kevin Hayes and, notably, J.T. Miller, who has swung from wing on the second unit to share double-shift time in the middle between Buchnevich and Grabner with Zibanejad.… We all complained that Buch needed more time, and while in my opinion continually going 11/7 is not the wisest lineup, it does mean Buch should hopefully see more ice time. In addition, and maybe more important, that ice time is with an offensive weapon rather than a checking line pivot man; in the case Zib or Miller. Plus it makes his placement on the fourth line a bit less distasteful to the young Russian winger.
Hayes has thrived with the additional Ice time, as we saw the last two games. His game seems to be rounding into form. The same can also be said for Jimmy Vesey, who scored the empty net goal, each aided by the defensive ballast that is Jesper Fast. The next pair that hopefully finds their game is Chris Kreider and Mats Zuccarello. Of the two, I am less worried about Zucc, given his history. Maybe the PPG CK20 tallied Saturday will help unlock his game, as he has been struggling the first part of the season.
On the blue line, per Brooks, maybe coach Alain Vigneault has found his pairings; at least for a period of two. Saturday, Ryan McDonagh played with Brendan Smith, his fifth combination of the season. In moving Smith to McDonagh’s right side, the coach reunited the pair he had used in Smith’s first two games as a Ranger early last March, but not since. We will see how long that lasts. But on this duo, McD can rush the puck and let Smith be the defensive d-man of the two, rather than when McD plays with Kevin Shattenkirk or Brady Skjei. Your guess is as good as mine as to how long this pairing stays together.
In a similar vein, the Marc Staal-Kevin Shattenkirk pairing - which is on its fifth game as a duo - has a more stay at home d-man and puck-rushing one. Staal is still not worth his $5.7 million salary but he has been eons better than he was last season. In fact, he has been so good, AV has trusted him against top pairings. Part of that may be due to having ‘Kirk on his other side, since he can be the zone breaker and help carry the puck out of danger. Of course, we know how well it worked out in last year’s playoffs having Staal in last in games. But he has earned the ice time afforded to him, as opposed to last year, when he should have been on the bench in late-game situations.
That leaves Nick Holden and Brady Skjei as the third trio. Holden is on his off-side allowing Skjei to stay in his strong side. This is not a duo I love, but as a third pairing, shelteeed at times, it could work. But only if Skjei can be the puck-moving and creative source from the backline he was last year. If he is the one hanging back for Holden, that defeats the purpose and stunts Skjei’s growth.
Brooks added these important nuggets: “and by using seven defensemen, Vigneault can play Holden on Skjei’s right (they played together twice last year) without losing Tony DeAngelo as his second power play unit’s right point but while sheltering No. 77 from demanding five-on-five matchups. This is probably not the optimum development plan for DeAngelo, who cannot be expected to thrive getting shifts that can come anywhere from 6-to-30 minutes apart. But for the moment, Vigneault doesn’t seem to be in a situation where he is consistently trying to get away from matchups.…
Who would have thought that nine games into a season, NY would be using seven d-men with one a PP specialist. But that where they are right now, especially until they decide on or add a 12th forward. I think that Fast will eventually get moved down a line and the forwards will get shuffled, moving Buch up. But with Filip Chytil a long shot to get promoted and until Boo Nieves or Vinny Lettieri get a look as the fourth line center, look for the 11/7 deployment to be utilized. But AV has to be careful who he and how frequently he double-shifts.
New York still is a team searching for an identity and looking to find its game. Saturday was a step forward in each direction, at least the first period. A win tonight will aid in those endeavors. That also will make it a bit easier to be look forward to Derek Stepan’s return.