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Rangers really to defeat Islanders 6-4, Lindgren and Panarin injured |
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The Rangers rallied for a 6-4 win over the Islanders on Tuesday. Four goals, excluding the ENG, in 5:32 and three in 1:34 gave the Blueshirts the victory. Filip Chytil got the rally started with a PPG, then Zac Jones netted his second of the game followed by Chris Kreider for the game-tying tally and Adam Edstrom tallied the game-winner. Kreider sealed the victory with an empty-net marker.
The rally, which came against a back up goalie was nice, but the contest was not without its issues. Those issues included health and performance concerns. But on the flip side, we also saw a few positive signs.
Chytil was injured following a collision with Scott Mayfield after he created a takeaway. He had to be helped off the ice, putting no weight on his left leg and we all immediately thought the worst. Fortunately, Chytil came back late in the first and was able to play the rest of the game.
After the game, Chytil spoke about how important it was, mentally, for him to come back and play. “If I can play, I will play. I'm not saying this was the best game for myself, but at least in my head now, I'm happy that I came back and I worked through that." Many have called Chytil, Brytil, and some of the injuries have just been unlucky. But if he can stay healthy - a big if - he gives New York a solid third line center. If he is out for any extended time, how comfortable are you with Jonny Brodzinski or Sam Carrick as your 3C?
Ryan Lindgren was injured coming to Chytil’s defense. Mayfield looked to have landed an upper cut, after which Lindgren leg looked to buckle. No word post game on the extent of injury, but there was blood on the ice that looked to have happened when Lindgren landed front of the helmet first after the fight.
Lindgren was standing up for a teammate he thought was injured by a cheap shot. The hit was more leg to thigh but Mayfield did get the leg up on contact. If Chytil had been serious hurt and no one stepped up, we would have been ripping the team, so I get why Lindgren reacted. But you can also argue that in a pre season game, he might have waited to see the end result of the hit. That, however, is the 30K foot view and on the ice and in the heat of the moment, reactions are rightfully different.
Artemi Panarin left the game in the third with a lower body injury and was being evaluated. Coach Peter Laviolette didn’t have an update on his post-game presser and no update has been provided to date. If Panarin is out, which would be far from a good thing, an additional spot would be created for those on the bubble.
Edstrom had another solid game, continuing what we saw in rookie camp. He is making a strong case for a fourth line spot. Matt Rempe showed increased speed on the forecheck and didn’t hurt his case to open camp with the team, which is how he started camp. Brennan Othmann showed his physical play again but didn’t really move the needle. The refereeing was horrible for both teams. Missed calls all over the place.
I thought Jones, even besides the two goals, was having a solid game. He should have been used in the Florida series with Adam Fox limited. Failing to do so is on Laviolette and the coaching staff for being stubborn and not inserting a player whose skills in advancing the puck out of the zone, desperately needed, might have made a huge difference.
The eye test didn’t show this, but the Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Reilly Smith trio had a solid night, per the advanced metrics. I didn’t see much while watching the game but the numbers portray a different story. Kreider had the two goals - and an assist off his private parts when he was hit Zib’s shot - while Mika had an assist and Smith was held off the scoresheet. Get used to seeing the trio as a unit.
Yesterday, Pierre LeBrun reported on the negotiations with Igor Shesterkin and that he is looking to reset the goalie pay market. Frank Seravalli noted that the declaration that Shesterkin would cut of all negotiations on October 9 might not be set in stone. Irrespective of who you believe, we all know what the dollar ask is likely to be, at least as a starting point. What was revealed is that the Rangers are willing to exceed what Carey Price received, which is $10.5 million annually. Now comes the fun in trying to bridge the gap. I think they eventually settle around 11.25 annually but the negotiations will be tense.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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