The Rangers lines at their practice today are: JT Miller, Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello Rick Nash, Derek Stepan, Jesper Fast Chris Kreider, Oscar Lindberg, Emerson Etem Tanner Glass, Dominic Moore, Viktor Stalberg The defense remains the same as last night. Kevin Hayes is skating at practice today with Dylan McIlrath on an extra defense pair.
Alain Vigneault said that the Rangers have reached a "tipping point" with Kevin Hayes and that he hasn't worked hard enough. Hayes is only winning 34.1% of faceoffs. Hayes turned the puck over inside the Rangers blue line last night which led to Nashville's second goal.
I like that Miller, Brass, Zucc line as I mentioned earlier today. I like that AV is giving it a try. Don't love Glass in or McIlrath scratched, but I like that line and I like sitting Hayes to see if it wakes him up.
As crazy as it sounds, I'm starting to not hate Glass in the line up. Don't get me wrong, I still strongly, strongly dislike it, but on the ice this team has too many passengers. Too many guys gliding around like it's the Rockefeller Center ice skating rink. Besides Glass (and lately JT, and while he was in McIlrath) nobody is putting a body on anybody. It's a free entrance to our zone every time, nobody paying a price for flying through Hank's crease, nobody put on their ass coming across the middle. At this point I'd play Glass over Stalberg, who should never have been signed. This team needs energy on the ice. As useless and pathetic as he is, Glass is one of the only people providing it. Scratching him and keeping Hayes in the line up would mean adding just another passenger to the bus that nobody seems to be driving. I like the move to get Etem back in. He's had some fire past few games. Let's see if we can get him going here.
Glass should be sent to the league below the minors, never to return. He sucks more than our current technology can measure. Hayes. Well. He's a lazy pussy. We seem to have about 5 to 8 of them on the team all of a sudden. More of a reason why Gorton needs to remove his head from his worthless ass. I heard if the team doesn't make the playoffs that our first round pick to Arizona(fixed) will be in 2017 instead. Thank God. This is looking like a team that won't make the playoffs.
I'm with dump on Glass. I do get your point Prod, but Glass isn't that guy. Bring up some kid who hustles and hits...he couldn't be worse than Glass. I also like Etem back in. With the shape our forwards are in he at least has some potential...might as well play him. And Hayes deserves to be scratched...hopefully it lights a fire under him. It is the 1st rounder to Zona. If we miss the playoffs, doubt that happens though, we keep the 16 1st and Zona gets our 17 1st instead.
They don't have any snipers on the team, that's the problem offensively. They have too many slow thinking 3rd line talents. It just takes too much effort to generate goals. It comes alot easier for most other teams. I guess that's what happens when you draft 20th every year.
The Rangers said this morning that they have a player who is questionable for tonight's game against Tampa Bay. (Cyrgalis) The Rangers extra players for tonight were supposed to skate this morning but Dylan McIlrath was the only skater who did. (Cyrgalis) Kevin Hayes, who is supposed to be a healthy scratch tonight, did not skate and could play if the "questionable" player is unable to. (Cyrgalis) Both goalies were on the ice this morning but Henrik Lundqvist is expected to start. (Cyrgalis)
Hayes again showing he doesn't care. Hopefully, Gorton told him not to because he was possibly going to trade him.
