The Rangers 6-5 to the Penguins on Sunday, Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin each scored a pair of goals, the second by Malkin Sportscenter Top-10 worthy. Mats Zuccarello continued to raise his trade value with a pair of goals while Kevin Hayes added one as did Mika Zibanejad and Ryan Strome. Alexandar Georgiev surrendered the six markers against, though I didn't think he had a bad game. New York is back in action Tuesday versus the Hurricanes. Trade deadline is a week away, cue the rumor intensity.

Game recap:


David Quinn Post-Game:

“We’ve shown those characteristics throughout the season - we don’t quit.” - #NYR Coach Quinn on battling till the end vs. Pittsburgh pic.twitter.com/8zbHVVO9RA

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 17, 2019

I will keep this brief as really not a ton to break down.

1) Lineup - skewed by the lack of Jesper Fast (flu) and Brady Skjei (knee). That resulted in an another 11/7 deployment with Fredrik Claesson, back from his shoulder injury, on the third line as a winger. That alignment ended up important as Neal Pionk, clipped under his shield by or on the right eye accidentally by Sidney Crosby, missed the rest of the game due to precautionary reasons, moving Claesson back to the blue line. The good news is that Pionk, see below, should be good for Tuedsay, though his own zone play is still ugly. Here is a hint, maybe call up Ville Meskanen or Steven Fogarty or Peter Holland just in case.

Kreider-Zibanejad-Zuccarello
Vesey-Hayes-Buchnevich
Namestnikov-Strome-Claesson
Chytil-Nieves-Brickley

DeAngelo-McQuaid
Staal-Pionk
Smith-Shattenkirk

Georgiev

Quinn said defenseman was held out for precautionary reasons. Should be good for the Hurricanes in Raleigh on Tuesday #NYR https://t.co/nzGy69QlsZ

— Jon Lane (@JonLaneNHL) February 17, 2019

2) One small play that might have unnoticed was on Letang's first goal. His shot went off Kevin Shattenkirk past Georgiev. Watch the replay again. 'Kirk tilted his skate the wrong way, leading to the goal. He closed his skate, meaning that if the puck did hit, as it did, it would deflect on goal, If he opens his skate, like in bastketball when guarding the baseline, the puck would deflect in the corner or out to the side, not on net.

3) Zucc is rolling. The below stat spells out just how hot he has been. As the Mark Stone and Matt Duchene get closer to resolution, the Zuccarello discussions should pick up. I still say there is an outside shot he remains, but the greater likelihood is come seven days from now, he is elsewhere. Where, who knows.

Mats Zuccarello has posted a multi-goal game for the 16th time in his NHL career. He has posted a multi-point game in three of the last four games (two goals, five assists) and has recorded 27 points (eight goals, 19 assists) in his last 27 games. #NYR

— NYR Stats & Info (@NYRStatsInfo) February 17, 2019

4) One week to go. Zuccarello, Hayes, McQuaid seem to all be in play. The big question is anyone else. In addition, where will each go? A long 168 or so hours upcoming.

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