Coach Alain Vigneault said Friday that Dan Girardi suffered some swelling in his injured right knee during the game against Tampa Bay and the team's training staff thought two days off was best for him before the game against Florida on Saturday night. The expectation is that G will be in the lineup again with Dylan McIlrath a healthy scratch. My question is why?
As difficult as it may be, forget Girardi's poor play. Rather focus on how the injury further adversely impacted Girardi on the ice against Edmonton and Calgary after he was injured blocking a shot in the third period against Vancouver on December 9. The swelling on the knee is due to a small crack in the kneecap. While it may be true that the injury can't get worse - though I am unsure if I believe that - the swelling that resulted in the second game of his return to action is an indication that the knee is not fully healed.
So I ask the question again, why not site Girardi until the knee is fully or close to fully healed and play McIlrath? While G and Kevin Klein were out, McIlrath acquitted himself well and showed he belongs in the lineup daily. If Girardi, who originally missed five games with the injury, is still compromised, with Klein now back, it would be even easier to sit him and go with McIlrath. Yet for some inexplicable reason AV and the coaching staff refuse to make that call. To me, that's an epically stupid decision.
I understand wanting Girardi to re-find his game and regain his confidence. In addition, you want your best defensemen out there given the team's upcoming schedule, as they play Florida on Saturday, Dallas on Tuesday, Washington on January 9, Boston on January 11, the Islanders on January 14 and then the Capitals on January 17. But by putting him on the ice when he is way less than 100 percent, you hurt the team and also possibly prevent him from regaining that confidence, which as well know is a fragile entity even for professional athletes. In addition, you run the risk of a further setback and longer absence.
Further evidence to the above point is from the Rangers site:
With any fracture you're always looking at 4-6 weeks, and obviously he's come back prior to that, so he's got a little pain to endure there, but I figure in a couple more weeks we shouldn't hear about this any more--that's what I am hoping anyway," added Vigneault.
So if the view is the healing process is 4-6 weeks, why is team playing him on an injury for which he only sat two weeks?
Sit Girardi until he is healthy. Play McIlrath in his stead. AV could move Ryan McDonagh to the right side if needed or play McDonagh and Klein together. Have Marc Staal skate with Dan Boyle and McIlrath with Keith Yandle or have Staal with Yandle and McIlrath with Boyle. Regardless of the combinations, with Klein back and McIlrath an easy fit in the lineup, Girardi should sit out until the knee is healed.