Rangers vs. Islanders: What to watch, including J.T. Miller preseason debut
For the first time since he was named team captain last week, J.T. Miller takes to the Madison Square Garden ice wearing the C on Thursday night, when the New York Rangers host the New York Islanders.
It’s the Rangers third preseason game, but the first for Miller and several other veterans. Forwards Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck, and Alexis Lafreniere also make their preseason debuts, as does defenseman Carson Soucy.
The Rangers are 1-0-1 in the preseason. A 5-3 road win over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday preceded a 5-4 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins at MSG on Tuesday. The Rangers blew a three-goal lead in the third period, and surrendered the final four goals against the Bruins.
Even though it was a preseason contest, coach Mike Sullivan wasn’t happy with how the Rangers lost that game. He relayed that message loud and clear to the Rangers after the loss. The expectations and standard are higher, whether in preseason, regular season, or Stanley Cup Playoffs.
So, they get after it again Thursday, this time against the Islanders (0-1-1). It doesn’t appear that they’ll see No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer, who’s not expected to play. The 18-year-old defenseman made a helluva first on-ice impression in his preseason debut last week and should be a lock to start the season in the NHL.
Highly-touted rookie Calum Ritchie is in the Islanders lineup Thursday, and David Rittich starts between the pipes. Goalie Jonathan Quick makes his second preseason appearance for the Rangers.
Here are some things to watch for when the Rangers host the Islanders in preseason action Thursday.
Related: Rangers Daily: Rising expectations; Preseason injuries mount in NHL
1. Competition continues, ramps up for Rangers rookies
For the third straight preseason game, rookie forwards Gabe Perreault, Brennan Othmann, and Noah Laba are in the Rangers lineup. Perreault and Othmann likely are competing for one roster spot on the wing. And Laba is trying to win the 3C role, with Juuso Parssinen his most serious competitor.
Perreault scored a goal in each of the first two preseason contests. The 20-year-old gets the chance to skate on the top line with Miller and Zibanejad against the Islanders, a major opportunity to prove that he can keep up with two of the best forwards on the Rangers roster.
Othmann had an outstanding rookie camp and excelled in two games against Philadelphia Flyers prospects. But the 22-year-old is pointless in two preseason games. Othmann avoided a hearing with NHL player safety after he was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for elbowing Sunday, and followed that up with a fairly physical showing against the Bruins. Let’s see what he does Thursday, skating in the top six alongside Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere, with Artemi Panarin (lower body) still sidelined day to day.
Laba has three assists in two preseason games and played a really strong two-way game. The 22-year-old’s impressed Sullivan throughout camp. Though a long shot, Laba’s got himself in the mix to possibly center the third line. That’s what he’ll do Thursday, skating between Brett Berard and Conor Sheary.
It should be noted that Berard is also competing for a role on the wing in the bottom six and comes off a solid showing against the Bruins.
2. Conor Sheary tries to force Rangers hand again
Then there’s Sheary, the diminutive 33-year-old forward who’s trying to force the Rangers hand to keep him on the roster. The two-time Stanley Cup winner under Sullivan with the Pittsburgh Penguins is in camp on a PTO and looked like a real good third-line fit Sunday. He was the best player on the ice against the Devils, scoring on a breakaway, creating numerous scoring chances, and excelling at both ends in a strong 200-foot showing.
The Rangers likely prefer if one — or several — of the younger forwards force their way on to the roster. But Sheary’s got the experience championship pedigree, drive, and relationship with Sullivan going his way.
He’s the safety net here. The question is if he can prove more useful if the kids continue to play well.
3. Rangers go big
New York’s regular fourth-line center Sam Carrick gets the night off, so 21-year-old Dylan Roobroeck takes his spot between Matt Rempe and Adam Edstrom. If you’re thinking this is more like the Knicks than the Rangers, get used to it.
Sullivan deployed a mammoth line combination of Rempe (6-foot-9), Roobroeck (6-foot-7), and Nathan Aspinall (6-foot-5) against the Devils. Now, Edstrom (6-foot-7) steps in for Aspinall, to add a couple more inches to the trio.
“That might be the biggest line I’ve coached,” Sullivan said pregame. “I just think size is hard to play against. They’re big, they’re long, they’re rangy, they lean on people.”
The Rangers sure do love drafting towering forwards. And it’s interesting to see how well these combinations have fared so far, now that these kids are developing and growing up.
That defense pair of Soucy (6-foot-5) and Will Borgen (6-foot-3) is not exactly tiny either. Look for the Rangers to go big Thursday against the Islanders.
