I am starting to think that the theme of the Rangers' season to date should be: "Side Out, Rotate." Just when get quasi-used to a lineup, if you blink, it changes. Much of these changes are due to the injuries that have plagued this team, but we can see the horizon in the distance as several are returning or close to returning to action.
It's been confirmed that Derek Stepan will play Saturday against the Maple Leafs. He gets an immediate test of his leg, as New York will turn around and play again Sunday at home against Edmonton. Stepan, who had been sidelined with a non-displaced fractured fibula, will not play with Rick Nash, instead lining up with Chris Kreider and Mats Zucccarello. The reason for that change is the fine play of Derick Brassard between Nash and Martin St. Louis. Coach Alain Vigneault is wisely following the dictate of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." That trio has meshed well together while Kreider and especially Zuccarello need jumpstarts, which hopefully can be provided by Stepan.
The third and fourth lines also have a bit of shifting. I had hoped Kevin Hayes would skate on the third line with Carl Hagelin and Anthony Duclair while Dominic Moore would play with Lee Stempniak and Tanner Glass. In practice today, Moore was with Hagelin and Stempniak while Hayes center Duclair and Glass. When asked why Duclair is not in the top-nine yet still in the lineup, which is a change from what had been said, AV responded "he lied" and then added the move was made for balance.
Personally, if keeping Hayes here, he better fits on the third or scoring line. You can argue he belongs in the minors, learning to play center while seeing heavy minutes. But the Rangers have decided that he rather than Chris Mueller, sent down yesterday, and J.T. Miller, belongs here. You see flashes from Hayes but they are just that, flashes, and he has lots of work to do defensively. This is why the third line, as opposed to a forecheck one that is slated to be more defensive, is where Hayes belongs and have Moore play the fourth line. To me, the same applies with Duclair, as a veteran like Stempniak can better handle the fourth line, while Duclair could struggle with the defensive responsibilities there.
Defensively, the six and the alignment of them should be the same as Wednesday against Detroit. I would hope the pairings will be Matt Hunwick-Dan Girardi, Marc Staal-Kevin Klein and Conor Allen-Mike Kostka. The good news is that Dan Boyle, out since the first game with a broken hand, practiced today in a regular jersey and said afterwards he is 'day-to-day.' Boyle still has a bit of pain and is regaining his range of motion. In addition, he is not ready for regular contact but hopes he will be next week, at which time, he believes he can return to action.
When Boyle returns occurs, I would put him with Staal again and likely sit Kostka, though I could see Allen, who practiced with Girardi on Friday, as the next man out. Hunwick stays with Girardi because of how well he has played and is deserving of a top-pairing. Tomas Kaberle was in practice again on a tryout, though no call has been on that regard, but you all know my view on it. That view is bolstered by Mat Bodie playing well at Hartford and thought process he should be the next in line and Ryan McDonagh hopefully back in a few weeks, rather than eating up the 50th contract on Kaberle.
Between the pipes Saturday will be Cam Talbot, who is coming off a strong game against St. Louis, while Henrik Lundqvist will play Sunday. Coach Vigneault said he wanted to give Lundqvist some rest with the heavy November schedule after starting him pretty much all of October. The back-to-backs are the perfect opportunity to do so while also keeping Talbot fresh.