Rangers Roundup: Strome had COVID; Reaves is day-to-day; and Henrik Lundqvist reveals details on David Quinn’s locker room
The New York Rangers had a gaffe filled loss to the Flames in their first game at home after 4 straight road wins. When it was all said and done, the Blueshirts coughed up the puck to Calgary 20 times. In contrast, the Flames gave it up only five.
After the game, Ryan Strome was asked about missing the road trip. He admitted that he had COVID and was symptomatic.
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Ryan Strome had COVID
Strome, 28, has been one of the Rangers top scorers for the last few seasons. He has just an assist in three games this year, but said he felt good coming back after a bout with COVID.
“I had symptoms, that’s why I had to miss 10 days” he revealed. “I felt pretty good. A lot of thanks to the training staff they did a great job taking care of me.”
Unfortunately, Strome’s presence could not help Artemi Panarin’s turnover problems this season as he added two more last night. He leads all Rangers’ forwards with 8 through 7 games. Still, head coach Gerard Gallant was happy to have Strome back.
“He’s a top-six player for us,” he said. Strome finished the game with 19:07 on 22 shifts. He also won 11 of 12 face-offs.
Ryan Reaves is day-to-day
The Rangers played basically with 12 forwards almost the whole game. Ryan Reaves appeared to reinjure his left leg that he sprained in preseason against the Devils in the early going of the first period. He went to the locker room but returned because he just wanted to sit on the bench and cheer his team on.
“He just wanted to sit on the bench and be part of the group,” Gallant said. “Most of the time you stay in the locker room but he just wanted to be on that bench supporting the guys. You don’t have to do that but Reavo is a new teammate and he wanted to be there to support them. He was disappointed he couldn’t play.”
As far as the injury Gallant states he is day-to-day. The Rangers play Columbus at MSG on Friday.
Henrik Lundqvist gives more insights into David Quinn’s locker room
Trouba, 27, is starting his third season with the Blueshirts. He’s considered one of the Blueshirts top candidates to be captain, and can see a change in the team’s mentality.
“I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a different kind of feel,” Trouba said. “Teams I’ve been on in the past you get that ‘oh no’ feeling and this team is ‘shut this down and close it out’. We know what to do, it’s not really overthought and everybody knows their job. Do your job and we’ll be fine. That’s the kind of mentality we’ve taken.”
He followed up those comments with a statement that seemed to cause a stir about the previous head coach, David Quinn.
“I think there’s a little bit more cohesiveness and the team’s a little bit tighter,” Trouba added. “Guys are comfortable being themselves more than they have been in the past, myself included. It goes a long way when you’re in tight games. You build a trust with the other guys.”
Last night during the MSG Broadcast, Henrik Lundqvist was talking about the team’s play on the road and Trouba’s comments. What he said shed a lot more light on Trouba’s remarks.
“The new coach coming with the mindset of maybe a little less meetings and playing a little more free. I think that’s what Troubs is talking about,” Hank explained. “For them to really try to find a way to get it done instead of trying to be perfect all the time. We saw that during the road trip. It looks like they are playing pretty free and it’s paying off.”
Quinn’s micromanagement style obviously was a reason for his dismissal.
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