Rangers Roundup: Goodrow on lineup competition, former Blueshirt Brett Howden injured in scary collision, and more
The New York Rangers will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins in a possible playoff preview at Madison Square Garden. Over the next two weeks, the teams will have three chances to see how they match up, beginning Friday night.
The Rangers won the only meeting between the teams so far this year, a 1-0 game at home on Feb. 26. And they’ll meet again Tuesday in Pittburgh, then close the season series on April 7 at Madison Square Garden.
Barclay Goodrow likes the lineup competition
The New York Rangers have four new faces in their lineup starting with the acquisition of Frank Vatrano and following with the Trade Deadline deals for Andrew Copp, Tyler Motte, and Justin Braun.
Those moves make the Rangers better but have already bumped out players like Greg McKegg and Julien Gauthier from the lineup. When Kaapo Kakko and Kevin Rooney return from injury you can expect to see even more players scratched.
“It’s a positive for some players and a negative for others,” head coach Gerard Gallant explained. “You do the best you can. We just had a little chat (with the players) to stay positive. We’re trying to do this to win hockey games. Have patience. There’s a lot of people on the ice but we’re trying to win hockey games.”
There was also a lot of movement at practice on Thursday that saw the following possible changes.
- First line could see Frank Vatrano at RW
- Second line could have Andrew Copp at RW
- Third line could have Alexis Lafrenière at LW with Chytil and Goodrow
- A new fourth line centered by Tyler Motte with Hunt and Brodzinski
Ryan Reaves looks like he will be a healthy scratch.
One of the Rangers leaders, Barclay Goodrow has no issues with having a little extra competition to push players.
“You can never get too comfortable in the lineup,” Goodrow told Mollie Walker. “Guys being moved all around the place, up and down the lineup — or even coming out — it’s good to have that competition. It’s good to have guys pushing you to keep getting better and stay on top of your game.”
Brett Howden suffers scary looking injury
Former New York Rangers forward Brett Howden suffered an injury that required him being stretchered off the ice Thursday night in Vegas.
The incident occurred at 16:29 of the first period as he was driven into the boards from behind by Predators forward Filip Forsberg. Unfortunately, Howden was already off balance at the time of the hit leaving him unable to protect himself.
The Golden Knights updated Howden’s condition after the game as stable but requiring further evaluation. Head coach Pete DeBoer said that he had full mobility of his extremities and they should know more about his condition by Friday. Vegas tweeted out that Howden has no injury to his neck or spine.
We wish Brett a speedy and full recovery.
NHL Trade Deadline Winners and Losers
Who were the biggest winners, and who failed to get done what they needed to do? Read more here.
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