New York aims to earn their fifth win in a row against Boston at MSG tonight. After a slow start, the Bruins are 5–2-3 in their last 10, aided by the return from a concussion by Tuukka Rask. Boston has reeled off part of this streak despite the absence of several players, including David Krejci and Brad Marchand, who sat out Monday’s game and will not suit up tonight. New York gets their first look at the local boy, Charlie McAvoy, who has not look out of place while playing big minutes.
Despite the win streak, it’s possible that coach Alain Vigneault makes a lineup change or two tonight. On offense, as Larry Brooks pointed out, during Monday’s 5-3 victory over John Tortorella’s Blue Jackets, Vigneault went with three lines for the entire third period while sitting Jimmy Vesey, David Desharnais and Paul Carey. With the potential return of Boo Nieves from the flu, I expect Nieves to be in the lineup with either Desh or Carey sat.
Personally, I thought Carey didn’t play badly Monday while both Vesey and Desh struggled, especially in the first, as each was out of position on a minimum Columbus’ first goal, while Desharnais’ turnover led to Josh Anderson’s goal and 2-0 deficit. If Nieves wasn’t out against Florida due to the illness, Desh, who has two goals and five assists in the year, would have been scratched for Carey. If that move is made tonight, Carey would likely slide up to the 3C with Nieves at the 4C. Clearly, that is not an optimal or sustainable solution, which is why as Brooks also notes, the team is likely looking for a third center.
Filip Chytil is learning down in Hartford and it appears that the team is not ready to call him back up just yet. If a move like that is made and he is inserted on the third line, does Kevin Hayes’ become the shutdown center again or is Nieves’ line filling that role? This is why, despite the four game win streak and the sterling performance of the power play, finding a center for this line is likely priority one. I do expect Desh to be given more chances for redemption, but if he is unable to fill this spot, a trade is probably the solution pursued, unless Gorton and AV turn to Chytil for 5-6 games to see what he can before burning his ELC or possibly Vinny Lettieri, who seems to fit the bill of what is desired for this line.
On defense. Brady Skjei and Kevin Shattenkirk need to remain a pair. With Brendan Smith scratched and Tony DeAngelo aiming to improve his craft in the minors, Nick Holden and Steven Kampfer have both been in the lineup. Each have had good and bad moments but having both in the lineup - let alone one - is not a sustainable solution. The question is when will AV reinsert Smith in the lineup? A game against a physical Boston team, despite the young and upgraded speed in that lineup, would seem to be a perfect place for that move. But, off four wins in a row and knowing how AV hates to make changes after a victory, it wouldn’t shock me if we see both Holden and Kampfer in the lineup tonight.
Smith has not looked good and the initial return on the contract he signed has been horrific. But for him to just lose it so quickly after how well he played after he came to New York and in the playoffs is extremely odd. Maybe he was playing for a new deal, but that drastic of a drop off without any sort of injury appears to be an aberration. Trying to deal him now for pennies on the dollar or to take on an equal deal to me is not the wisest strategy. That’s why I think giving him a chance to work through his issues now that the team has gotten back to even is the wisest course of action.
New York is in the midst of one of the tougher stretches of their schedule. The comeback win over Las Vegas, strong team performance in victory over Tampa and resiliency versus Florida Saturday got it off to a good beginning. Monday’s win over Columbus continued the hot streak, which looks to be extended tonight at home against Boston and the hopefully at MSG on Saturday versus Edmonton. Following these two games, it’s road contests versus Chicago and Columbus.