New York Rangers injury update: Artemi Panarin to miss 2nd straight game, newcomer debuts
As the New York Rangers continue to try and work out of a slump that has seen them go 3-10-0 in their past 13 games, they’ll have to do so without star forward Artemi Panarin for the second straight game. The Rangers top scorer won’t play against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday night because of an upper-body injury.
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Panarin was on the ice during New York’s morning skate but was not a full participant.
However, newcomer defenseman Urho Vaakanainen, acquired in the trade that sent Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 6, was a full participant in the morning skate, and will make his Rangers debut on the third defense pair with Chad Ruhwedel.
Among other lineup news, Kaapo Kakko is slotting back in after being a healthy scratch in the 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Sunday. Kakko was very vocal Tuesday, voicing his displeasure with the decision to scratch him against the Blues.
Coach Peter Laviolette understands Kakko’s frustration, and to his defense, is trying anything he can at this point to find a way out of the hole that the Rangers find themselves in.
“There’s been older players who have sat out as well,” Laviolette said. “The decisions that I make, they’re tough decisions. Our team, Kaapo, our team, we need to play better. We’re 3-10 in our 13 games and that’s not good enough. We need to play a better brand of hockey, all of us.”
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Lines shuffled again as Rangers look for win against last-place Predators
As Laviolette continues to find a lineup that will spark something, here is what can be expected on Tuesday night in Nashville:
Cuylle – Chytil – Lafreniere
Kreider – Trocheck – Berard
Kakko – Zibanejad – Smith
Edstrom – Carrick – Vesey
Jones – Fox
Lindgren – Schneider
Vaakanainen – Ruhwedel
Shesterkin
Quick
Defensemen Victor Mancini and Connor Mackey are healthy scratches, as is forward Jonny Brodzinski.
With Panarin out of the lineup for a second straight game, the Rangers will look for Will Cuylle to continue to make an impact on the first line. He’s arguably been New York’s most consistent player, and has 11 goals and 23 points in 30 games this season, including a third-period goal Sunday.
Mika Zibanejad will remain on the third line after earning just 13:04 of ice time against St. Louis, his lowest single-game TOI in roughly seven years. Whether Laviolette is trying to send a message or generate a spark while trade rumors begin to circulate, the coach needs more from his star players.
“We need to play better, we’re not playing well enough,” Laviolette explained. “We’re not doing the things that we need to do in order to be successful. I do think that it was better the last game in St Louis compared to the game before, but still not good enough. There’s got to be more from our team, in general. From the players, from myself, from everybody. We’re either going to accept where we’re at, or we’re going to fight like hell to make a difference and move out of this. That’s the only way that we’re going to get there. There’s got to be more fight to what we’re doing.”
Of note on the defense pairings is that Ryan Lindgren and Adam Fox have been split up once again. Zac Jones will play the left side on the top defense pair with Fox, in what has the chance to be an exciting duo on the blue line. Jones logged a season-high 21:28 TOI against the Blues on Sunday. He could give Fox a new look as he is a good puck-moving defenseman.
Lindgren will play on the second pair with Braden Schneider, and Vaakanainen will make his Rangers debut alongside Ruhwedel. The 25-year-old has one goal and 24 assists in 141 NHL games, and has played just five games this season with the Ducks, dealing with injuries.
Igor Shesterkin will start in goal as he looks to rebound after giving up five goals on 21 shots in 25:04 before being pulled in a 5-1 home loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.
With the Predators sitting last in the overall standings, this certainly feels like a must-win for New York.
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