Jimmy Vesey gets chance to prove himself with Rangers’ top line

Jimmy Vesey is simply the newest participant to get a glance on the Rangers’ prime line subsequent to Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, which has given the 29-year-old much more of a possibility to showcase himself within the remaining days of his skilled tryout contract.

“We put him all over the place,” coach Gerard Gallant mentioned of Vesey, who blocked one shot and recorded one hit within the Rangers’ 5-4 loss to the Bruins on Wednesday night time at Madison Sq. Backyard. “Quite a lot of the fellows — I imply, I’m not going to level out simply Vesey as a result of there’s [Gustav] Rydahl and there’s all these guys battling for these spots. So he’s one in all them. He’s performed in several conditions and we need to give our guys a glance. In order that’s what it has been.

“We’ve been making an attempt to fill out the roster to make sense for the opening night time. Once more, they’re exhibition video games, you’d prefer to play effectively and also you get extra of your workforce into them, however once more, I’m not placing an excessive amount of into the strains or the lineup proper now.”

Slotting subsequent to Zibanejad and Kreider is acquainted territory for Vesey, who spent the primary three seasons of his NHL profession in New York with these two. Vesey and Zibanejad truly got here to the Rangers on the similar time forward of the 2016-17 season.

Jimmy Vesey
Jimmy Vesey
Jason Szenes

In 80:51 of ice time over these three seasons, in keeping with Pure Stat Trick, Vesey, Zibanejad and Kreider had been on the ice collectively for 5 objectives and 7 towards. Nonetheless, that was a number of years in the past and all three gamers have developed a ton since then. Vesey mentioned the familiarity helps when it comes to their communication.

“I’m not going to be nervous to speak to them,” he mentioned. “Yesterday in apply, we had a whole lot of communication going. I used to be in all probability just a little little bit of nerves the primary couple drills. However they’re nice guys and making me really feel actually comfy.”

Zibanejad scored twice within the first interval of Wednesday night time’s loss, together with one on the facility play. Nonetheless, the Child Line of Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko was as soon as once more the Rangers’ most constant unit all through the sport. The trio totaled two objectives (each from Kakko), an help (from Lafreniere) and 10 photographs on objective.

Nonetheless, Gallant wasn’t significantly happy with the Rangers efficiency — particularly the gamers on the roster bubble.

Mika Zibanejad (second from right), scored two goals in the Rangers' 5-4 preseason loss to the Bruins.
Mika Zibanejad (second from proper), scored two objectives within the Rangers’ 5-4 preseason loss to the Bruins.
Jason Szenes

“Quite a lot of them didn’t do themselves favors with tonight’s recreation,” he mentioned. “Quite a lot of guys are battling for jobs, nevertheless it wasn’t a very good recreation for lots of these guys tonight. Our complete workforce, we weren’t ok.”


Ryan Lindgren is day-to-day with an undisclosed lower-body damage and didn’t skate towards Boston. Gallant mentioned the Rangers are “taking part in it actual protected” with Lindgren, who was sidelined for 3 video games within the first spherical of the playoffs final season with a lower-body damage.

In consequence, his defensive companion, Adam Fox, was additionally held out of the lineup to maintain the specified D pairings collectively.

“Might he skate at the moment? Sure,” the coach mentioned. “We’re not involved.”


Igor Shesterkin was scheduled to start out Wednesday night time at MSG, however the Rangers mentioned “abdomen points” relegated the star netminder to the bench. In consequence, Jaroslav Halak received the nod and gave up 5 objectives on 26 photographs within the loss.

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