New York Rangers Daily: Possible lineup changes; 2-time Cup champion seeking new home

NHL: Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Rangers
Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

It’s back to work for the New York Rangers, who get the rare chance this week to have a complete day off followed by two practice days in the middle of the season.

It’ll be interesting to see if coach Peter Laviolette continues to tinker with his lines at practice Thursday or Friday. He did a fair share of line juggling in New York’s 4-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, “just trying to find something,” Laviolette said postgame.

But after a day to think things over, might Laviolette change some things up following New York’s first consecutive losses since losing four in a row Dec. 22-30? Filip Chytil played with a myriad of different wings Tuesday, so keep an eye on that line at practice. Mika Zibanejad’s line with Will Cuylle and Reilly Smith was largely ineffective (0.35 xGF per Natural Stat Trick), so let’s see if Laviolette mixes that up at all.

Jimmy Vesey and Jonny Brodzinski have been the odd-men out the past eight games. Perhaps one of those forwards slots back in against the Boston Bruins on Saturday.

Just something to begin watching for when the Rangers return to work Thursday.

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New York Rangers news

NHL: Carolina Hurricanes at New York Rangers
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That loss Tuesday wasn’t great, but the Rangers received pretty much nothing but good news in the Eastern Conference playoff race this week because teams ahead of them keep losing.

However, as our Tom Castro points out, the season-long mind-numbing defensive miscues by the Rangers are really threatening to sink their season for good.

Vincent Trocheck says that despite two straight losses the Rangers are “keeping the positivity” heading into February.

Gabe Perreault’s third 3-point game of the season and Noah Laba’s two-goal effort highlight our Rangers NCAA prospects report.

In our Hartford Wolf Pack weekly, we take a look at Rangers prospect Brennan Othmann finding his scoring touch again.

NHL news

NHL: New York Rangers at St. Louis Blues
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After the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected “Yetis” as team name for the Utah Hockey Club, an in-arena vote will take place to select the official nickname. The three finalists are: Utah Hockey Club, Utah Mammoth, and Utah Wasatch. Let’s Go Wasatch!

Expect two-time Stanley Cup champion Brandon Saad to find a new home soon. The forward is being placed on unconditional waivers and will have his contract bought out by the St. Louis Blues.

Veteran goalie Philipp Grubauer was placed on waivers by the Seattle Kraken for the purpose of being assigned to Coachella Valley in the American Hockey League.

Flyers goalie Sam Ersson will replace injured Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom on Sweden’s roster for the 4 Nations Faceoff.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Owen Tippett was knocked out their game against the New Jersey Devils in the second period Wednesday after taking a big hit by Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon. No update on his condition yet. Behind Jake Allen, the Devils blanked the Flyers 5-0.

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost their third straight game, 3-1 to the Minnesota Wild.

Noise continues to surround the Vancouver Canucks, but they found a way to win their third consecutive game, 3-1 against the Nashville Predators, and move into the second wild card in the Western Conference.

The Pittsburgh Penguins rebounded with a 3-2 overtime win on the road against Utah.

Watch Sidney Crosby score the overtime winner for the Penguins on Wednesday.

Jim Cerny is Executive Editor at Forever Blueshirts and Managing Editor at Sportsnaut, with more than 30 years of ... More about Jim Cerny
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