The Rangers ended 2021 on a high note, defeating the Lightning 4-3 in a shootout, Barclay Goodrow in his return to Tampa notched a pair of goals while Alexis Lafreniere added his seventh of the season, each added by a Brian Elliot giveaway. Igor Shesterkin stopped 25 shots, including all three in the shootout, and Mika Zibanejad had the sole tally to win the skills competition to earn New York the win. These two meet again Sunday at MSG at 12:30pm with Tampa possibly getting abc Andrej Vasilevskiy between the pipes.
Game recap:
A few thoughts: 1) Goodrow: I think we all agree that the contract was an overpayment. But adding Goodrow was a way to bring onboard someone who knows what it takes to win the playoffs and who brings an additional veteran presence to the room. That doesn't mean we won't get all over him when his production wanes, as it has, but it's a reminder as to why he was signed, albeit at a hefty cost.
Not a bad return to Tampa. He received his ring before the game, opened the game in the starting lineup, was honored with a video tribute and tallied a pair of goals. All in all, a pretty darn good day for Mr. Goodrow.
2) Lineup: coach Gerard Gallant shifted the d-pairings before and forward units during the contest. He moved Patrik Nemeth up to play with Adam Fox, having Libor Hajek skate with Nils Lundkvist. Gallant has learned just how valuable Ryan Lindgren is the past few games he missed. Nemeth was not the answer with Fox and you wonder just when Zac Jones will get his chance to play, especially since I think it's doubtful Lindgren, who could come out of COVID protocol on Sunday, goes vs. Tampa Bay or Edmonton on Monday as he has not practiced and may not have done much ice work the past week.
Gallant swapped Goodrow and Dryden Hunt early in the game after a pretty blah first period, not just from Hunt but much of the Rangers lineup. New York was better in the second and third stanza with Goodrow skating on a line with Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome. Hunt was dropped to the fourth line with Ryan Reaves and Greg McKegg, which might remain intact with Kevin Ronney likely out the next two games. Maybe, just maybe, we see Morgan Barron or Tim Gettinger.
The third line, despite the goal by Laf, did not see much ice time. Gauthier, despite the solid forecheck that led to Elliott putting the puck on Lafrenière’s stick for the goal, played just 6:04 on Friday. Lafrenière and Filip Chytil saw just 8:47 and 8:39 of ice time, respectively, continuing the recent pattern for each. Gallant is going to probably bench one and it could be Gautheir for Barron, though Laf or Chytil, the latter more likely than the former, might end up in the press box.
GM Chris Drury has reportedly been working the phones to add a top-nine or -six player to little avail. Now that the holiday break is over, maybe he will have more luck. But a deal is likely not to occur until closer to the trade deadline. New York is in dire need of one of those players on Drury's wish list. Several options will exist as teams fall even further out of contention, though the COVID protocols and cancellations complicate making deals. As time wears on and the offense continues to sputter, maybe Lauri Pajuniemi gets a chance on the third line.
I would include Barron in the lineup. Play Goodrow on the second line for now, unless Gallant is willing to move Laf up, which appears not to be the case. Sit McKegg or one of the third liners. For the blue line, Hajek could be the odd man out with Jones slotting in.
Pre-game update at around 12pm: @NYRangers: Artemi Panarin and assistant coach Mike Kelly have been added to NHL’s Covid protocol list and will be out today. Morgan Barron has been recalled from the taxi squad.
Also, Patrik Nemeth out with another illness. Zac Jones and Tim Gettinger in the lineup
Kreider - Zib - Kakko Laf - Strome - Goodrow Hunt - Chytil - Gauthier Gettinger - McKegg - Reaves
Miller - Trouba Hajek - Fox Jones - Lundkvist
Shesterkin
I would have sat McKegg and played Barron. In addition, pair Jones with Fox and have Hajek skate with Lundkvist. But curious to see how Jones-Nils play together. In more good news, Andrei Vasilevskiy is back between the pipes for Tampa Bay.