Practice Buzz: Line Rushes Hint at Opening Night Lines

Anthony Scultore Updated: Oct 8, 2014

Today at practice the NY Rangers took to the ice and rushed as these forward lines:

Chris Kreider(LW), Marty St. Louis(C), Rick Nash(RW)
Carl Hagelin(LW), Derick Brassard(C), Mats Zuccarello(RW)
Anthony Duclair(LW), JT Miller(C), Lee Stempniak(RW)
Tanner Glass(LW), Dominic Moore(C), Jesper Fast(RW)

FYI: Kevin Hayes, Ryan Malone and Matt Hunwick were extra skaters.

My first impression is that the Rangers are overstocking the 1st line a bit. If the Blueshirts moved Duclair up to the top unit, and Kreider to the 2nd line it would provide a different look on the 3rd.

I’m not exactly comfortable with Duclair and a still raw JT Miller on the 3rd line with Stempniak. Of course, a healthy Kevin Hayes on the 4th line would likely take MSL off center.

Still, the group of forwards doesn’t worry me either and I feel they will have a strong showing against a deep and talented St. Louis Blues lineup.

On defense, no shock there:

Ryan McDonagh(LD), Dan Girardi (RD)
Marc Staal (LD), Dan Boyle (RD)
John Moore (LD), Kevin Klein (RD)

AND IN GOAL…..

#30

HEN-RIK LUND-QVIST!

Special Teams:

I’m thinking different looks depending on how players are going. Looking for the pp units to possibly be:

Kreider, Brassard, MSL
Zuccarello, Boyle

Duclair, Miller, Nash
McDonagh, Girardi

On the PK:

Hagelin, Moore
McDonagh, Girardi