What it boils down to is that last night was inexcusable. This was a game to go to the ECF and they looked like a team taking the night off in November. Now you let a very good team back into the series with a legit shot to send it to a game seven. Wins are wins but something else to consider. This is now four straight games where they haven’t beaten Carolina in regulation.
I know they won seven straight games but did they have a dominant performance in any of them? Even against craps they didn’t have one dominant performance. Maybe they’re due for one.
That was a stinker to be flushed away. Ironically enough Wheeler came to the Rangers at a discount for a shot at the Cup, maybe he gets into the lineup to help out. This is where Lav's experience comes into play and he makes the necessary adjustments to create more offense.
This is good news, and would be a huge lift if true: Chytil (illness) is slated to be an option for Thursday's Game 6 against Carolina, per Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today on Wednesday. Chytil returned from a head injury last Thursday, but after recording a shot in 12:02 of ice time in that contest, the 24-year-old missed the past two outings due to the illness. He's also been dealing with some soreness unrelated to his previous head injury. Chytil might serve in a bottom-six role versus the Hurricanes, but it's also possible he'll be a healthy scratch.
Whether they’ll have Kreider on Thursday is at least partially in doubt. The 33-year-old skipped practice, coming off a miserable minus-3 performance in Game 5 on Monday. “I’m hoping that today was just a normal playoff maintenance,” Laviolette said. Blake Wheeler skated in Kreider’s place on a line with Mika Zibanejad and Jack Roslovic at practice. Wheeler has made great strides physically after being sidelined three months with a lower-body injury. However, just Tuesday, Laviolette said that Wheeler won’t be rushed back into game action. Filip Chytil skated as an extra forward, as did Matt Rempe. Chytil returned to play Game 3 in this series after being sidelined six months with an upper-body injury believed to be a concussion. But Chytil missed the past two games, the first because of an illness, the second believed to be a healthy scratch. Jonny Brodzinski, scratched in Game 5 after playing in the previous game, practiced on the fourth line with Barclay Goodrow and Jimmy Vesey. “Everybody that was out on the ice was cleared (to play) today and then we make (lineup) decisions based on where players are at,” Laviolette explained. “Based on where players are at physically, we make decisions.” Though there were no personnel changes on defense at practice Wednesday, Laviolette did shuffle some defensemen around. Jacob Trouba was reunited with K’Andre Miller, and Braden Schneider paired with Erik Gustafsson. These were the defense pairings for most of the regular season. However, down the stretch and through the first nine games in the postseason, Trouba skated with Gustafsson, and Miller paired with Schneider. “It may or may not be exactly how it was out there today (in Game 6),” Laviolette stated. Trouba and Gustafsson were on for 11 more scoring chances against than for (41-30) 5v5 in the first five games of this series, including nine high-danger chances against (eight for). Miller and Schneider were minus-7 (43 chances against, 36 for) and nine nine high-dangers chances against (seven for). The pair that has struggled the most is the Adam Fox-Ryan Lindgren tandem, who allowed 11 high-danger chances against and only three for. Fox has not seemed himself in the series and could be playing hurt since he didn’t practice for nearly a week between the first and second rounds. “Speaking of Miller and Trouba, there’s a lot of experience there. They’ve played a long time together, a lot of minutes together,” Laviolette said. “Again, no matter how we go back there, I still feel we have a really good balance of defensemen.” And they’ll need a big night from their six defensemen, who will face another relentless barrage from the rejuvenated Hurricanes in Game 6.
If Chytil doesn't play tomorrow night something doesn't add up. If it was concussion related no way he practices, and he has the past few days. But if he is good and cleared, how do you sit him for Brod. The whole thing seems a little puzzling to me if he doesn't play in game 6.
If Chytil is out tomorrow night then it’s time we move on from him as it likely would be head related. If he’s cleared to play, he’s in. If we play Brod over him then I can’t see a way for Chytil back into this lineup as a permanent fixture, even next season.
I agree, and that is why I think this is puzzling. The obvious thing to say is yeah it is concussion related, that is why Chytil would sit, and I agree that logically makes sense on the surface. But what doesn't make sense is he's practicing, would he be if it were concussion related, and he is cleared to play per the fact that he's fully practicing, and Lav's comments. It is very strange. Good enough concussion wise to practice fully and be cleared to play, but not good enough to play in the game over a guy like Brod? Maybe it is possible that while technically good and cleared to play, Chytil (or the coaches) just don't feel strongly enough that Chytil is ready for the physical high-speed battle of round two game 6 of the playoffs. It all seems strange to me. Lav's comments: “Everybody that was out on the ice was cleared (to play) today and then we make (lineup) decisions based on where players are at,” Laviolette explained. “Based on where players are at physically, we make decisions.” Filip Chytil was a full participant in practice and is considered available for Game 6, but Laviolette said where a player is at and how they’re feeling is also being taken into consideration. Laviolette said “Everyone who practiced today is a full go and in consideration,” according to USA Today’s Vince Mercogliano. “How they’re feeling physically is a factor, but it’s a coach’s decision,” Mercogliano reported on Wednesday, May 15, after the Rangers practice ahead of Game 6.
