New York Rangers done talking about Islanders, plus Ryan Strome probable for Flyers
The New York Rangers were back on skates at practice on Saturday. Coming off a crappy performance against the New York Islanders, where they lost 3-0, Gerard Gallant wanted to focus on the Flyers this Sunday.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Gallant said via the team’s YouTube channel. “Last night’s game stings a little more.”
As expected, he was a lot more tempered than last night after he called his team’s play “horseshit.”
“I’m not telling you what the message was, but it wasn’t that simple,” he quickly snapped to the notion that he just wanted his team to move on.
New York Rangers practice notes
Jacob Trouba and Ryan Lindgren were given maintenance days to rest their bodies. Both have been very physical in games, and last night Lindgren was popped a few times by the Isles.
Other practice notes indicate that Justin Braun will face his former team as he was partnered with Patrik Nemeth on the third pair. Julien Gauthier also looks like he’s getting back into action skating on the third line with Alexis Lafrenière and Filip Chytil. Barclay Goodrow appears he will center the fourth line with Greg McKegg looking like a scratch.
“Honestly, I don’t know yet,” Gallant said of lineup changes. “We’ll make a decision probably tonight. Once I hear from trainers we will have a better idea.”
Ryan Strome probable against Flyers
For the first time since suffering a lower-body injury in first period against the Buffalo Sabres last Sunday, Ryan Strome took part in practice.
Albeit, it was on the fifth line per multiple reports.
“He’s definitely a possibility,” Gallant said of Strome. “That’s one of the (injury updates) I’m waiting for. We will find out tomorrow.”
The Blueshirts’ second line center is still considered day-to-day.
Strome, 28, has 45 points (15G -30A) through 62 games this season for the Blueshirts. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and there has been very little progress made on an extension at this point.
Andrew Copp has played in his spot centering Artemi Panarin and Dryden Hunt. Since slotting in the middle he has registered one goal and three assists. He’s totaled 7 points (2G – 5A) in 6 games since being acquired at the NHL Trade Deadline on March 21.
Rangers done talking about Islanders
After the loss to the Islanders, Artemi Panarin was asked what happened and opted to be pretty direct.
“We dirtied up our pants,” Panarin’s translator finally said.
Mika Zibanejad was certainly more collected in his thoughts but still had a hard time with the effort.
“I wish I had an answer,” Zibanejad said. “It’s just not acceptable. It wasn’t good enough. The last game we played against them was a good hockey game. But we (tonight) we didn’t come up to pour standards and our level. That’s on us.”
Obviously the team wants to move and Barclay Goodrow was in no mood to discuss it today.
“We’re on to Philly,” Goodrow said. “I don’t think we need to talk about the Islanders.”
Head coach Gerard Gallant said earlier that he gave the team his message and Adam Fox fully received the direction.
“We addressed it,” Fox said. “It wasn’t our best but we’re right back at it (on Sunday) with a chance to move forward and I think we’ll do that.”
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