Rangers Roundup: COVID updates, Reaves returns to Vegas, and more
The New York Rangers are coming off an impressive back-to-back on home ice, and they hope to keep the good times rolling Thursday against the Golden Knights in Vegas, It’s also the opener of a five-game road trip.
Gerard Gallant’s charges are on a three-game winning streak after getting two wins over the Tampa Bay Lightning and a 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers. The streak started with Mika Zibanejad getting the only goal of the shootout of a 4-3 win at Tampa Bay on Friday and continued with Zibanejad getting a hat trick in an impressive 4-0 win at home over Tampa Bay on Sunday.
That was followed by another complete team effort against the Oilers on Monday for a 4-1 win.
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New York Rangers roster notes
The Rangers announced some roster moves today starting with placing Patrik Nemeth to non-roster status with a non-covid issue. Head coach Gallant recently called it a “personal issue” but no further details were given, including timeframe to return.
Jarred Tinordi has been cleared off COVID protocol and K’Andre Miller will be joining the team later today after an inconclusive COVID test.
Multiple reports from practice indicates that the lineup tomorrow will be the same as it was against the Oilers. That includes Libor Hajek remaining a pair with Zac Jones.
Artemi Panarin is not eligible to return until he completes the mandatory 5 day quarantine (reduced from 10) and has a negative test.
Ryan Reaves back in Vegas
Reaves has had a big impact on shaping the 2021-22 New York Rangers by giving them an element of physicality and toughness they’ve lacked for years.
“Having [Reaves] on the bench has everyone puff their chest out a little more,” Adam Fox said back in December. “We feel a little safer. He keeps other team’s guys in check as well. They know they can’t take liberties because they’ll have to answer to him. Having a guy like him allows everyone else to play a little bigger for sure.”
The Blueshirts acquired Ryan Reaves over the summer for a third round pick. Soon after, they extended the 34 year-old through 2022-23. The extension will be for the same AAV he will receiving this season at $1.75 million. Reavo, as he’s called by teammates has chipped in offensively with 6 assists in 30 games.
Reaves was hoping to get the better of his old team on December 17 at MSG, but unfortunately the Blueshirts lost in a shootout 3-2.
Tomorrow represents one more chance to stick it to them or otherwise it will take a meeting in the Stanley Cup Final to make it happen.
“It was the first one I looked at when the schedule game out after I got traded,” Reaves admitted.
On whether or not he would drop the gloves with someone from his former team Reaves noted he wouldn’t shy away from it.
“I’ve never fought a friend,” he said. “I’ve been close. Me and Chris Stewart are really good friends and we almost went at it a couple of times but never did. I think if the game calls for it and one of them wants it, then by all means they can have it.”
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