Blue Line Station
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New York Rangers: Intrigue as a reeling Toronto team come to town

By Steve Paulus

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 28: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs takes a face off against Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers during the second period at the Scotiabank Arena on December 28, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 28: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs takes a face off against Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers during the second period at the Scotiabank Arena on December 28, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 19: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers looks on against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 19: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers looks on against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /

About the Rangers

Coming off a loss Monday night to Dallas, David Quinn said that he is shuffling his lines  The team needs to start scoring at even strength as they have been scoring almost exclusively on the power play.

As a result, Artemi Panarin and Jesper Fast will be skating with Filip Chytil as their center.  All indications are that Chris Kreider will be back in the lineup with Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich.  If they hold Kreider out of the game it will most certainly be a case of protecting a trade asset.

Quinn did say that he has been impressed by Kaapo Kakko‘s offensive game and he “could move up.”  Considering that Buchnevich was in the doghouse Monday and saw only two shifts in the third period (and was scored on during one of those shifts), it is very possible that Kakko will get to play with ZIbanejad.

Ryan Strome has not produced at all at even strength of late and will be moved to the third line with Phil Di Giuseppe and either Kakko or Buchnevich.  The fourth line will feature Brendan Smith, Brett Howden and Brendan Lemieux.

Of course, that could all change at 6:59pm.

One issue for the newly configured Chytil line is his ability to win faceoffs.  Howden took most of the draws when he was playing the wing on Monday, winning 11 of 13 faceoffs.  Quinn said that Chytil has a minor wrist issue, but if he has to take all faceoffs while teamed with Panarin, that could be an issue.

When Brett Howden scored on Monday night, it ended a six game scoreless streak.  Kakko’s assist on that goal was his first point in 11 games.  As for Chytil, hopefully playing with Panarin will start him on another streak.  He scored eight goals in his first 15 games, but has scored only three goals in his last 27.  As for Brendan Lemieux, his two points against Dallas was his first multi-point game since he had two goals against Montreal on November 23. .

As mentioned, the Rangers have split their first two games against Toronto so this is the rubber match.  The Rangers have won two of five games since they took two straight from the Islanders with their only two wins against the cellar dwelling Detroit Red Wings.  Their playoff hopes are slipping away pretty quickly, not helped at all by the fact that their East Conference rivals continue to get points.

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