New York Rangers: K’Andre Miller in action for Team USA in win over Slovakia

The 2019 World Junior Championships got underway in British Columbia Wednesday.  It was an opportunity for New York Rangers fans to see 2018 first round draft pick, defenseman K’Andre Miller in action.

Team USA got off to a good start with a 2-1 defeat of Slovakia.  Although clearly outplayed and outshot 34-14, the Slovaks held on and jumped out to a 1-0 lead midway through the second period. Team USA scored two third period goals to take a lead that they never relinquished. New York Rangers draft pick K’Andre Miller played heavy minutes as a regular on defense.

K’Andre Miller is a big kid. At 6’4″ he is the tallest player on Team USA and he seemed to tower over his opponents and teammates.  He is off to a tremendous start at the University of Wisconsinwith four goals and 13 assists in 18 games.   For team USA, Miller was teamed with Dylan Samberg who is playing in his second WJC and who won the NCAA championship last year with Minnesota-Duluth.

The pair was the obvious shut-down defensive duo as they didn’t see much if any power play time.  They were on the ice on all penalty kills  In fact, when Team USA was penalized for goalie interference in the third period, Miller was on the ice for the first minute and a half of the penalty kill.

Team USA is loaded with offensive defensemen, led by Quinn Hughes and Mikey Anderson.  Miller did show an ability and eagerness to join the offense.  In fact, it was his pinch in the second period that led to the odd man break and Slovakia’s only goal.  The entire USA team was deep when Slovakia cleared the puck and set up the rush.   Miller showed excellent speed almost getting back to check the puck carrier from deep in the Slovakia zone.

In the third period he jumped into the rush and got a shot on goal. He also showed puck smarts with 1:45 left when deep in the offensive zone,  he dumped the puck behind the net, allowing team USA to get a change.  While he was held off the scoresheet, there was  a lot to like about K’Andre Miller’s game and it will be fun to watch him as the tournament progresses.

One thing was also very clear.  Jack Hughes is an all-world talent and the consensus that he is the future #1 overall pick in June makes perfect sense.

It was a promising start for K’Andre Miller and the Americans.  Most prognosticators have USA meeting Canada in the gold medal game on Saturday, January 5.   Your next opportunity to see K’Andre Miller is Friday night at 1030pm on the NHL Network when they take on Kazakhstan.

Late addition: Sweden vs. Finland

Sweden beat Finland 2-1 in the last game of the day.  The Rangers’ third first round pick of 2018, Nils Lundkvist, played for the Swedes.   Like Miller, Lundkvist played more of a defensive role, leaving the offense to fellow defenseman and team Captain Erik Brannstromm who scored both Swedish goals.

Lundkvist was paired with Flyers draftee Adam Ginning and was killing penalties and was in the game at crucial defensive moments.  With the game on the line in the last minute, Ranger fans will be happy to know that Lundkvist was on the ice.  He showed some feistiness, exchanging crosschecks with a Finnish player that left Lundkvist with a bloody lip.

All in all, a good display by two baby Rangers.  Ranger fans can watch Vitalli Kravtsov at 4pm on Thursday when Russia plays Denmark.  Canada absolutely annihilated Denmark 14-0 so look for Kravtsov to have some offensive opportunities.  One note, the Russian team is using the future Ranger at center in this tournament.