4PM: Gerard Gallant spoke after practice and said (NYR):

• What do you do with this extra time, “practice day today, practice day tomorrow and then we are off for the Christmas break. We just had two days off, get back and we had a good conditioning skate today, just trying to keep them sharp a little bit and then after a good practice tomorrow they are off for the Christmas break. We play it one day at a time, that is all we can do.”

• Is there concern with all the postponed games around the league, “I haven’t been here the last couple of years, but it’s part of the business right now. Until Covid is out of our lives you have to adjust and do the things you can do. Take it one day at a time, if the game is canceled that is fine, we’ll play it another time hopefully and just hope for the best and have a good holiday and come back with a fresh mind and be ready to go again.”
• Is it nice to have the break to make sure Panarin and Shesterkin are healthy, “they are ready to go, both of them would have been ready for the next game. It’s a few extra days, but I think that if you asked our players you’d sooner play the game on Wednesday and then start your break, but it is what it is and we are trying to be safe and that is the most important thing.”
• Where do you think the team is after 30 games, “I didn’t know what the expectations were, to be honest with you, I don’t really go into a season like that. I knew we had a good hockey team, I’m real happy with where we are at. With the schedule and amount of road games and travel days and back-to-backs, I’m happy with where our position is right now.”
• Is there anything in particular that you are happy about, “As coaches we talk everyday about trying to get better in certain areas. There are a lot of good things, PP has been good, PK has been good, our point production has been good, I’m happy. Nothing is going to be perfect.”
• Was it important to see Georgiev play well, “It was more important for himself. Georgie, the way the other guy was playing early in the year, didn’t get a lot of time. That is tough and frustrating, but for him to go in there and play the amount of games he played and the way he played, it’s important for our group. Definitely more important for him, for me as a coach, I knew he was a good goalie, I watched him play the last year and a half, the games I’ve seen him play. I came in here thinking we had two Grade A goalies, and that is what I see.”
• Where will Chytil play moving forward, “no thoughts right now. I like him. He prefers center, there is no doubt about that. Will he play the wing? He’ll play it and be happy on the wing, too. I talked to him before the game and said that he might get more time over here, might play with different linemates and he said ‘coach, I’ll play where. Put me on the ice and I’ll play.’ He’s a happy, easy-going kid and we’ll do what is best for our team and he is fine with that.”
• On Chytil playing the wing, “There is a little less responsibility for sure. We want to give him a shot over there because of injuries or different reasons, but I think the best players are like a guy like McKegg, he can play either wing or center, he just wants to get on the ice. That is what you should worry about, don’t worry about what position you are playing tonight, worry about getting on the ice and doing your job well. Last game Fil went out and played the wing and he played fine.”
• On Ryan Lindgren, “he’s outstanding. He does everything, he kills penalties, does all the dirty work. That is what builds teams, guys like him, character like him. I love the way he comes to play every night. We talk about Trouba, he’s one of those guys too. He’s a consistent guy, he bangs, bumps, blocks shots and you need those guys to be a successful team.”
• On having guys like Lindgren, “as a coach you love those guys, we always talk about those guys, the unsung heroes of your team.”
• On Zibanejad, “obviously everyone would like to see him score more goals, himself more than anybody. For me, from our first game, he plays against the best team’s line every night, he does the right things, plays PP, PK, he’s a really important player. When he doesn’t score, does it bother me? Not one bit, because he plays the game the right way and does the right things. Would I like to see him have 20 goals right now? I’d love to, but it’s not one concern right now. Our team is winning and he is playing the right way, that is what is important to me.”
• On Shesterkin being able to return but the team not playing, “no, nothing you can do about it. I’m sure Igor would like to be playing again, but it is what it is, and as long as everyone is healthy and safe, that is the most concern, but now he’s going to get one more day of practice and we will see from there.”

11:30 AM: Ryan Strome, with what the team called maintenance, did not skate today at practice. (Stephenson)

Artemi Panarin did return to practice after missing Friday’s game against Vegas with a lower-body injury. (NYR)

The lines used today were (Stephenson):

• Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Kaapo Kakko
• Artemi Panarin, Barclay Goodrow, Dryden Hunt
• Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil, Julien Gauthier
• Kevin Rooney, Greg McKegg, Ryan Reaves

 The Rangers have not announced any new players joining Patrik Nemeth in Covid protocol.