New York kicks off the rough part of the early season schedule with a contest in Tampa. The Lightning May be the best team in the league, and as of now, are likely the top dog in the East. All three components of their team - offense, defense and goaltending - are upper echelon or close, making tonight’s game a pretty good touch point as to if the comeback victory New York had the other night was an aberration or something that can built on.
The reunited top trio and lined from Tuesday should remain intact tonight. The Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Pavel Buchnevich first line was a monster in the third period Tuesday, led by Zib’s dominant frame. The second line is Rick Nash-Kevin Hayes-Mats Zuccarello while Jimmy Vesey-David Desharnais-J.T. Miller trio is the third line and Michael Grabner-Boo Nieves-Jesper Fast the fourth. The team as a whole struggled the first 40 minutes but found their legs is the third. Part of that might have been attributable to a tired Golden Knights squad, but New York took advantage of the chances afforded.
On the blue line, the pairings will be changed....again. The Ryan McDonagh-Brendan Smith pairing, which struggled Tuesday, will be broken up as Smith will be in the press box. He was scratched two famed earlier this season and I am unsure how benching him helps him work his way through his problems. In addition, this also means that Nick Holden and Steven Kampfer will both be in the lineup. Do you think the Tampa Bay offense led by Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos and others aren’t licking their chops right about now? Pairings and matchups, the latter of which is always a challenge on the road, will be even dicier tonight seeing what one-third of the blue line will be.
McD had another maintenance day Wednesday, his third of the year, which seems to lend credence to the view that he is playing through an injury. As mentioned before, if he is hurt, just sitting him and call up one of the blue liners from the minors to skate in his place, allowing the captain to heal. But now, with Smith out and Holden in, McD will be needed to play even more and harder minutes, which could exacerbate the injury.
Brady Skjei and Kevin Shattenkirk, paired together Tuesday, should stick together as that was the only good duo in that game. That means either Holden, Kampfer or Marc Staal will pair with McDonagh. If it’s Staal, who played within McD earlier this year, the third pairing, who will be in need of major sheltering, will be Holden-Kampfer; hold your eyes. One of Holden or Kampfer could pair with McDonagh, though I am unsure that’s much better.
This marks the first game against Dan Girardi since he was bought out and signed with Tampa. For all his struggles, wonder if New York could use him right about now, at least until McDonagh and Smith find their games. In addition, Ryan Callahan will be in the lineup, so it’s a full reunion.
Elliotte Friedman’s 31 thoughts are always a must read. This week is no different. But there is a heavy Rangers focus: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/31-thoughts-rangers-roster-decisions-huge-impact-nhl/
Following tonight’s contest, New York travels Saturday to Florida to face the Panthers. It gets no easier next week with home games against Columbus, Boston and Edmonton and then it’s road contests versus Chicago and Columbus. If the Rangers are going to resurrect their season, this would be the time in which to do so. Further struggles will force the changes that have been broadly discussed, either players or coaching staff.