New York Rangers Daily: Blueshirts contribute to Team USA win; Vladimir Tarasenko on trade block again
Neither Vincent Trocheck nor J.T. Miller hit the score sheet despite the United States scoring six times in a 6-1 win against Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off on Thursday night in Montreal. But each New York Rangers forward helped set a tone that Team USA was going to come in and play with an edge and swagger.
Miller’s first shift featured him in the middle of a mini-melee in front of the Finnish net. Though he didn’t have a shot on goal in the game, Miller did finish with three hits and was solid on the perfect United States PK.
Trocheck also played a big role on the PK, especially when he and Miller teamed up front to kill the majority of a 4-on-3 disadvantage in the third period. Oh, and Trocheck delivered an absolute bomb of a hit early in the first period. You know, just to let the Finns know that the U.S. was there and serious about this tournament.
It felt like the two Rangers forwards were playing tone-setting playoff hockey. If the Rangers can actually make the final cut into the Stanley Cup Playoffs this spring, these two wrecking balls will be fun to watch.
As for Adam Fox, it didn’t feel like he was a difference maker over his 18-plus minutes for Team USA. Maybe he was more feeling his way. Perhaps he’s getting used to not being head-and-shoulders better than every other defenseman on his own team. Still, the U.S. power play picked up steam with Zach Werenski running point rather than when Fox did.
Fox did nothing to hurt Team USA, that’s for sure. He just wasn’t a standout. But in the end, that’s OK in a 6-1 victory, when the U.S. pulled away with four goals in the third period.
On the other side, Urho Vaakanainen logged the least ice time — just north of 13 minutes — of any Finnish defenseman. He was minus-2, on ice when Matt Boldy’s perfect deflection make it 2-1 U.S. late in the second period and again when Brady Tkachuk scored his second of the game three minutes into the third period off a feed from Auston Matthews.
Already looking ahead to Saturday, which should be a fun day of great hockey at the 4 Nations Face-Off. First, Sweden and Finland meet in the afternoon at Bell Centre. Then the United States and Canada hook up in the evening.
Subscribe to the Rink Rap podcast at the Forever Blueshirts YouTube page
New York Rangers news
Brennan Othmann — photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack
Former Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko was scratched by Finland. Current Rangers forward Chris Kreider was scratched by the United States.
Since we are at a break in the NHL schedule, we handed out report cards for each of the Rangers forwards.
And in case you missed it, earlier in the week, we graded each of the Rangers goalies and defensemen.
Brennan Othmann is on a heater with the Hartford Wolf Pack. The key Rangers forward prospect has seven goals in his past nine games, including the tying and winning goals in a 4-3 OT win Wednesday.
How about Dave Maloney explaining to us why Jacob Trouba was the “spiritual leader” of the Rangers before he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks?
NHL news
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore is week to week with an upper-body injury that he sustained in Canada’s 4-3 overtime win against Sweden at the 4 Nations.
Travis Sanheim will replace Theodore in Canada’s lineup moving forward. Here’s a look at what the Philadelphia Flyers defenseman brings.
Since Canada is down to six healthy defensemen, the Canadians reportedly have Thomas Harley of the Dallas Stars flying to Boston to be on standby if needed later in the tournament. Per the rules, Harley is not allowed to practice with Canada unless they have fewer than six healthy d-men.
After Juuse Saros allowed six goals Thursday, Finland is mulling a switch to Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen for their clash with Sweden on Saturday.
On the trade rumors front, former Rangers forward Vladimir Tarasenko could be on the move again, this time with the Detroit Red Wings looking into trading the two-time Stanley Cup winner.
The Boston Bruins need to figure out their plan ahead of the trade deadline, with queries reportedly coming in about defenseman Brandon Carlo and forward Morgan Geekie, plus the non-stop Brad Marchand rumors.
Watch the Tkachuk brothers combine to score four goals — two each — for the United States on Thursday.
More About:New York Rangers News