After not having performed since Dec. 23, Zac Jones was again for a second straight sport in Friday’s 3-2 loss to Pittsburgh at Madison Sq. Backyard.
And in contrast to his promising return Wednesday within the win over Boston due to an sickness to Urho Vaakanainen, Jones wasn’t capable of assist in Friday’s expensive defeat in opposition to an undermanned Penguins workforce.
The pair of Jones and Braden Schneider struggled, very like the remainder of the lineup in a sport the Rangers may hardly afford to drop.
Previous to the loss, Peter Laviolette praised Jones’ sport.
“He sees the game really well,’’ the coach said. “He’s a good skater, makes a good first pass, reading situations from a defensive standpoint. … We had the conversations postgame to remind him that’s exactly what we want, and he executed well.”
How that impacts Jones going ahead stays to be seen.
Previous to Wednesday, he had been a wholesome scratch in 18 straight video games, in addition to 20 of the previous 21.
“Being a guy last year in it the whole year, I learned to roll with the punches sometimes,” stated Jones, who was out and in of the lineup a yr in the past, as nicely. “Some days are better than others. You come ready to play, regardless of what day it is, what the situation is.”
With Vaakanainen out, that scenario meant extra time on the ice for Jones, though the Rangers have simply Saturday’s sport at Columbus earlier than the 4 Nations break.
“It’s tough. You come into the lineup after being out a while and want to stick to your game in a sense, but also [playing time is] in the back of your mind,” Jones stated. “I’m not gonna say it’s not. It’s natural to think something like that.”
With Adam Edstrom out indefinitely with a lower-body damage, Jimmy Vesey changed him on the fourth line in opposition to the Bruins, alongside Matt Rempe and Sam Carrick.
The road performed nicely of their first sport collectively, however Rempe made a expensive unhealthy go early within the second interval Friday that led to Pittsburgh’s first aim.
Rempe, although, is hopeful the road performs nicely with Vesey, regardless of Edstrom’s absence.
“We played a ton last year in the playoffs, so I’m really comfortable with him,” Rempe stated.
Even so, Vesey gained’t be capable to convey the identical degree of physicality the 6-foot-7 Edstrom did.
Rempe stated he didn’t anticipate Edstrom’s absence to impression the way in which he performs, since he already makes use of his pressure successfully.
“I feel like no matter who’s out there with me, I play physical,” Rempe stated. “So my game doesn’t change at all, even though I’m going to miss [Edstrom].”
What Rempe is extra centered on is what he’s been addressing for a lot of the season: turning into a extra well-rounded participant.
“I think my game is improving a lot,” Rempe stated. “As a player, I’m learning about making more plays with the puck, and I want to continue to develop and build on that. I want to be a really good player, and I feel the more time I get, the more that will happen.”
Jonny Brodzinski entered Friday with two factors in his earlier three video games (a aim and an help), after not enjoying for 3 weeks.
However Filip Chytil’s departure to Vancouver within the commerce that landed the Rangers J.T. Miller, in addition to Mika Zibanejad’s change to the wing, has at the very least for now made Brodzinski the workforce’s third-line heart.
Laviolette stated Brodzinski has expertise at heart, stemming from final season, when Brodzinski was at AHL Hartford and the group regarded to get him a while there.
“We were thinking he may need this because he was one of [Hartford’s] top players on a consistent basis and he’s done a good job evolving,” Laviolette stated.
Laviolette famous the 31-year-old’s pure place is on the wing however added Brodzinski has the traits to achieve success at heart.
“He’s got the assets to do it,” Laviolette stated of Brodzinski. “He’s a good, fast, smart player. … He can read things. He’s a quick skater and sees things well.”
