All is back to normal for the New York Rangers. After winning four in a row, the issues that existed all season have been on display in the last two contests. On Wednesday, New Jersey defeated New York, 6-3, in a contest where six different Devils lit the lamp. That included Jack Hughes, who has made the Blueshirts his personal whipping post, scoring 20 goals in 25 games versus the team.
Game recap:
Rangers lines vs. Devils:
Perreault-Zibanejad-Lafrenière
Cuylle-Trocheck-Miller
Kartye-Laba-Sheary
Raddysh-Edström-Chmelař
Gavrikov-Fox
Robertson-Schneider
Vaakanainen-Borgen
Quick
Shesterkin
Scratches: Iorio, Pärssinen, Brodzinski
IR: Rempe (thumb injury)
A few thoughts:
1) The game: New Jersey pinned New York in their own zone in the first period, carrying play throughout, with the score only 2-1 because of Jonathan Quick. The Rangers were on their heels and a step behind a quick Devils team, but close to 4-3 in the third on a Conor Sheary tally. New York pressed for the equalizer on a great shift by the first line, but were unable to tally. Hughes, shortly thereafter, willed New Jersey back to a two-goal lead, hitting a post, regaining possession, skating free in the the offensive zone, then beating Quick to ice the game.
2) Noah Laba (lower body) and Urho Vaakanainen (upper body) both left the Devils game with injuries. New York has a quick turnaround tonight facing Columbus on the road and neither made the trip due to evaluation of each happening back in New York. Yesterday, to replace Laba in-game, JT Miller was moved from wing on the second line to center the third line in place of Laba. If that happens again today, second line right wing becomes a wasteland. My guess is Jonny Brodzinski or Jussi Parsinnen center that line and Miller stays at wing. Adam Edström, who is learning the position, stays as the fourth line center, meaning the bottom-six is weak down the middle.
Vincent Iorio would dress in place of Vaakanainen. The pairings likely stay the same, though Iorio could swap pair spots with Matthew Robertson. Defense could be an issue against Columbus.
3) Miller is having a brutal year. Sugarcoating this is impossible. Miller is likely playing through an injury, which has reduced his speed and burst to almost nil, and wants to be on the ice to support the team. But given where New York sits in the standings and his presence has become more of a detriment than a help, he should be shut down until he is healthy and/or for the rest of the regular season.
