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MassMutual - East Division Playoff Race#nhlplayoffrace pic.twitter.com/yBmzZz52Iq
— Damian Echevarrieta (@Ech28) April 15, 2021
“Obviously, it’s nice to dominate a game, but it was not ideal,” said No. 10, whose left-wing drive off a pinpoint cross-ice, two-on-one feed from Ryan Strome lifted his team to its early 3-0 lead. “We have some details to work on and [improvement] for some very serious games coming up.
“I would say, fewer turnovers at the blue line. In general, obviously, this game was fun to play, but I’m probably in the front row of those giveaways, so I realize that. We have to tighten that up, play a little better defensively very seriously.”
Five different #NYR defensemen have tallied a goal over the last four games (Miller, Hajek, Smith, Trouba, and Lindgren), and each of the six NYR defensemen (Fox, Miller, Hajek, Smith, Trouba, and Lindgren) have recorded a goal over the last six games.
— NYR Stats & Info (@NYRStatsInfo) April 16, 2021
There has been a slight shift in the dynamics of the back end the last week or so, as the Trouba-K’Andre Miller pair has been given an equal share of the responsibility with the Lindgren-Adam Fox tandem, whose play had dipped a bit.
Maybe Lindgren has been banged up or somewhat fatigued. Maybe Fox had become somewhat seduced by points. But there has been a leveling off from the two sophomores. In the meantime, though, Trouba has played his best hockey as a Ranger, elevating as he did late last year.
Indeed, after Fox had led the team in ice time in 34 of the first 39 games (one of which he missed), Trouba has paced the club in three of the last four matches, including this 23:44.
“He brings to the table a lot of things that we don’t have,” Quinn said of Trouba. “This guy is a throwback in a lot of ways to his approach to playing the game.
“The thing that’s underrated about him is his puck skill — I think he makes a great outlet pass — and he plays hard and creates a mentality in our locker room. He means an awful lot to us on and off the ice. People talk about the leadership role he has embraced this year, but I certainly like what’s going on, on the ice, as well.”
Strome on Kravtsov: “Quinny’s done a good job of mixing guys in. You never want to throw him out too, too much. It’s such a tough situation, coming over from Russia. But Quinny’s been giving him more and more of an opportunity and a chance to play with some of the top lines, and he’s done really well. I think, even on the line he’s been on with (Kevin Rooney and Brett Howden), I think he’s been really good there. They’ve been having some great games, some offensive chances.
“He’s super confident with the puck. He makes really high-skilled plays but not really high risk, which I think a young player tends to do in this league — which is force it a little bit, and certainly what I went through. I think he’s done a really good job of taking what he sees in front of him and making the smart-but-skilled play. He’s certainly fit in really nicely. It’s been a really nice addition. He’s done everything he’s been asked to do. He plays hard, he’s smart out there, he’s very responsible and obviously, it’s very encouraging to have a guy like that step in and be able to help us at this crucial time.”