LOS ANGELES — Libor Hajek earned his stretch of video games with the Rangers, and it seems Zac Jones is in for a similar kind of run.
That's solely truthful to each defensemen, who've been tagging one another out and in of the Rangers’ lineup by way of the primary quarter of the season. Head coach Gerard Gallant has inspired the wholesome competitors between Hajek and Jones, which most likely might be helpful for the younger blue liners.
“I prefer it,” Jones advised The Put up. “I like competitors. I’ve had the final two years, going into camp final yr, coming into camp this yr, I knew it was going to be a contest. Good that we nonetheless have it happening.”
Jones was anticipated to skate in his second straight sport Tuesday evening in opposition to the Kings, slotting in subsequent to Braden Schneider on the underside pair. After Jones sat out of the 4 video games main as much as the Rangers’ 2-1 win at San Jose on Saturday evening, he needs to be granted a stretch of enjoying time just like that Hajek obtained to get right into a groove.
If he performed Tuesday, it might have been Jones’ thirteenth sport of the season, a brand new profession excessive after he appeared in 10 video games in 2020-21 and 12 in 2021-22.
“I’m attempting to not concentrate on it an excessive amount of,” the College of Massachusetts product stated of fluctuating out and in of the lineup. “I’m simply attempting to go on the market at any time when I can, at any time when I’m within the lineup, go on the market and show that I deserve to remain within the lineup. Strive not to consider how arduous it's. Simply go on the market on a regular basis attempting to work arduous, attempting to maintain my conditioning up, attempting to maintain my energy up and at any time when I’m within the lineup, I’m within the lineup.”
Jones scored his first NHL aim on Oct. 29 at Dallas and entered Tuesday two factors shy of matching the profession excessive 4 factors he posted in his first season with the Rangers. As an offensive-minded defenseman, Jones is ready to present sturdy main passes to assist the Rangers escape on the push.
When requested what facets of the Rangers’ play he has picked up on since getting to look at from the press field, Jones pointed to simplifying his sport.
“Simply being less complicated with the puck,” he stated. “There’s a number of instances the place I’m on the market simply attempting to make too many high-risk performs, however I can simply make the straightforward play up the wall or one thing like that. That’s simply the largest factor I’ve observed is simply being less complicated with the puck.”
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