First Period:
- Jimmy Vesey (1) (Power Play) Assists: Filip Chytil (1), Brennan Othmann (2)
- Chris Kreider (1) Assists: Jacob Trouba (1)
- K’Andre Miller (1) (Shorthanded) Assists: Brennan Othmann (2), Mika Zibanejad (1)
Second Period:
- Zac Jones (1) Assists: Kaapo Kakko (1), Braden Schneider (1)
- Robin Salo (1) Assists: Ross Johnston (1), Andy Andreoff (1)
Third Period:
Three Stars:
- 3: Jimmy Vesey
- 2: K’Andre Miller
- 1: Brennan Othmann
Stats:
Adam Rotter:
- Preseason or not, a bunch of the players in the lineup who won’t be in the roster or not, the Rangers looked pretty good tonight.
- At the top, Igor Shesterkin looked like was in mid-season form. Chris Kreider looked the same with his PP goal and K’Andre Miller looked awesome.
- I think Jimmy Vesey is going to make the team. I’m not sure if it was ever in question other than the fact that he is on a PTO, and I think that situationally he can be very effective. His main role can be in the bottom-six on the PK, but if/when injuries hit players up in the lineup, he still has more potential to make an offensive impact than someone like Julien Gauthier or Dryden Hunt.
- Gustav Rydahl is an interesting guy to watch as the preseason goes on. I think he’s probably on the outside looking in to start, but he seems, based upon one preseason game, like he might be more than serviceable as a fourth liner, 13th forward or call up.
- Brennan Othmann had some really nice moments and was the first star of the game, but I don’t think he has much of a chance to make the team. The Rangers have the option to send him back to the OHL, there isn’t a spot for him and there is no reason to rush him. I hope he gets another preseason game or two for the experience and so we can see him. It’s very easy to see him as a big part of the Rangers lineup over the next few years.
- Bobby Trivigno will almost certainly start in Hartford, but he has fan favorite potential if/when he sticks with the Rangers.
- On defense it was interesting. Libor Hajek led all skaters in ice time, but Zac Jones played with Braden Schneider. Hajek saw 2:50 on the PK and Jones played over two minutes on the PP. Hajek has a much greater chance of seeing PK time than Jones has seeing PP time, so maybe that gives him a bit of an edge, but I think this is something that will play out over the course of all six preaseason games. It wouldn’t be a shock if they each play 4-5 games so that everyone can have as much information and game tape available to make a decision.
- Tomorrow night in Boston we will see the other half of the Rangers lineup and our first look at the new backup goalie duo of Jaro Halak and Louis Domingue.