Dryden Hunt skated on the second line alongside Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome throughout apply Thursday forward of the Rangers’ much-anticipated matchup with the Hurricanes in Carolina.
Although Gerard Gallant mentioned the Rangers’ lineup isn’t set in stone, it did sound just like the coach was leaning towards bumping Hunt again as much as the highest six.
“He’s an aggressive man, he skates, works onerous, competes onerous,” Gallant mentioned of Hunt, who was lately activated off injured reserve after lacking 4 video games with an undisclosed upper-body harm. “I like what he’s finished there, for probably the most half. If he performs there [Friday] evening, we wish some bounce from him once more.”
Regardless of taking part in apply within the days prior, Hunt was scratched for the Rangers’ 6-3 win over the Maple Leafs on Wednesday evening. After the sport, Gallant confirmed Hunt was able to go, that means it was only a lineup determination.
The Rangers absolutely need to get Hunt again to deliver some extra constant forechecking and grinding play into the lineup to fight the Hurricanes. Although Gallant mentioned he doesn’t make lineup selections primarily based on opponents, Carolina’s model of play actually requires the Rangers to roll with the grittier model of their squad.
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If Hunt strikes to the correct wing of the second unit, that may bump Filip Chytil all the way down to the third line. Throughout apply Thursday, Chytil was a part of a rotating third line that additionally featured Alexis Lafreniere, Barclay Goodrow and Julien Gauthier. It’s doable Gallant needs to see extra of Chytil on the wing, which suggests Goodrow would probably middle the third line.
Consequently, Gauthier will probably be in road garments. It’s onerous to think about Gallant breaking apart the fourth line of Greg McKegg, Kevin Rooney and Ryan Reaves after their efficiency in Wednesday’s win.
“I’m undecided what we’re doing proper now,” Gallant mentioned. “That was for apply in the present day and on the airplane experience, we could change one thing completely different. I imply, we’ll see what tonight brings.”
Friday will mark the halfway-point within the season for the Rangers, who're tied for second within the NHL in wins (26) and third in factors (56) coming into the matchup with the Canes. A win would give the Rangers their most factors on the midway mark for the reason that 2011-12 season and the second most in franchise historical past.
After going through the Hurricanes, the Rangers welcome the Coyotes to Madison Sq. Backyard on Saturday for his or her eighth back-to-back matchup of the season. The Rangers are 4-2-1 within the first sport and 4-2-1 within the second half of back-to-back contests.
The Rangers recalled forwards Jonny Brodzinski and Tim Gettinger, in addition to defenseman Zac Jones to the taxi squad on Thursday.
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