The Rangers meet up with their Metro Division rivals, the Capitals, for an early battle for first place in the division. Granted, it’s Game 12 for New York and 11 for Washington, so the hype machine should be turned down to low for this battle. But anytime you face a divisional rival, especially one who should be in the mix for first in the division, especially if it’s a team you defeated in the playoffs in the prior year, there will be some buzz.
For New York, the main story line is the changes throughout the lineup. Viktor Stalberg, who missed the prior two games with a suspected concussion, gets back in the lineup for Emerson Etem. What’s may be more interesting is that the reason for the change is Stalberg may be needed to help face a top flight Capitals power play. To me, that rationale seems a bit odd, given the presence of several others who can and have played up front while shorthanded. Plus, Etem is coming off a pair of solid games. In addition, Stalberg will be on the third line, shifting JT Miller to the fourth line. Miller does need to be better on and off the puck, but it’s worth nothing that he is the one pushed down for Stalberg rather than having Stalberg play with Stoll and Moore. So the third line is now two Swedes and a Yank again rather than two Yanks and a Swede. As mentioned in the last blog, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Jesper Fast and Miller switch spots, as Miller is better offensively while Fast does more of the little things right and may be better suited for the fourth line.
On the blue line, McDonagh and Girardi are reunited again. Reunification worked well for the top offensive line last game, maybe the same with happen here. That move was made to have McD-G once again match up against Alexander Ovechkin. The duo and Ovi have a history against each other, which to date has favored the Rangers a bit more than the Caps.
The other change is Dylan McIlrath in for Dan Boyle. Coach Alain Vigneault said of Boyle: “I have a tremendous amount of respect for a guy that's had that career, he hasn't played bad, but he hasn't played as well as we think, or he thinks, he can play. He's been given every opportunity, so now it's time to see Dylan. This is a big team and I think it could be a good fit for him." This is a move we have discussed and believed should have been in play for a while, but is McIlrath being set up to fail?
Beyond replacing Boyle, McIlrath is playing because he physically brings something the Rangers lack, toughness. With Tom Wilson in the lineup for the Caps, New York and AV wants a potential deterrent. So the gauntlet and challenge has been sent to McIlrath. In addition, with Raphael Diaz awaiting a possible move and his shelf life in the minors likely coming to an end, McIlrath needs to show he belongs and deserves the ice time. Larry Brooks this may be the last stand for him and that’s quite possible. Because if he isn’t progressing, keeping him makes little sense, especially if Diaz can fill the sixth/seventh d-man role. If McIlrath can acquit himself well tonight and play well in his next start, then he likely will stick around for a bit and Diaz will continue to be the odd man out. There is little more we can write on Boyle, whose salary is a sunk cost and if you have other better options, just scratch him and deal with the cap hit.
Rangers forward lines, defense pairs, and likely power play units:
Nash-Brassard-Zuccarello Kreider-Stepan-Fast Lindberg-Hayes-Stalberg Miller-Moore-Stoll Extra: Etem
McDonagh-Girardi Staal-Klein Yandle-McIlrath Extra: Boyle
Lundqvist Raanta
Power Play Units: Nash-Brassard-Zuccarello-McDonagh-Stepan Kreider-Hayes-Lindberg-Yandle-Klein