Quick Hits – Flyers vs Rangers 9/25/17 (Preseason)

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Here is the Quick Hits recap of the Rangers 3-2 OT win against the Flyers.

Filip Chytil – #72 is one to keep an eye on, as though he’s green, he’s evidently got the hockey IQ to make a serious impact on this team. His passing and stickhandling is a sight to behold, making slick moves to his linemates, and shooting when he’s got an opening. In this game, he had some serious chemistry with Nash, so that’s definitely a pairing to keep in mind if he makes the opening roster. Even if he doesn’t, spending some time down in Hartford, or with the North Bay Battalion of the CHL, will prove to be extremely beneficial for him to get the NHL conditioning he needs. He’s tough, though, he took a shoulder-to-shoulder hit from Gudas, and while you could tell it hurt, he was back on the ice not long after. He also gained an assist on the OT goal by McDonagh.

 

? Mac’s OT winner from all angles! ?

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Lias Andersson – #50 continues to impress, even if it’s not in-your-face. His skating and puck handling skills are damn good for an 18-year-old and he fits right in with the pros. Add to that his grittiness — seriously, he’s not afraid to block shots — and his willingness to throw his body around, and you have a recipe for an elite player. Time will tell where this guy ends up, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the main roster pretty early on.

Vinni Lettieri – Another good game for Lettieri, who I would be surprised at this point if we don’t see him on opening night next week. He comes with that shoot-first mentality that the team’s been sorely lacking, and he’s quick about it, too. Add to the fact that he’s a right-handed shot, and it’s a recipe for success…one that hopefully AV recognizes.

Pavel Buchnevich – Very visible on the ice tonight, in all respects in terms of shooting, passing, and weaving through traffic on the ice. He’s seriously improved over the summer, and it’s very evident. He made a beautiful pass to Mika Zibanejad, resulting in a goal in the third period. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in a top-6 position by the end of the season if he keeps playing like this. He earned two assists for the night for his hard work. Oh, and don’t forget, thanks to him high-sticking Staal, the Rangers went to a misguided power play, so he was all over the place today.

Other Notes – Despite my liking him, Marc Staal has seemingly come to the end of his productive time with the Rangers. I think Pionk and DeAngelo can safely make up the third defensive pairing, with McDonagh, Shattenkirk, Skjei, and Smith making the top 4. Henrik was on point in net, showing off his spiffy new pads and making 37 saves, earning him the number 1 star of the night.

By Christina Drury

Christina is an avid hockey fan and a great writer.

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