Author: Adam Rotter

Gerard Gallant met with the media following the Rangers win over Toronto and said (NYR):

• On the start, “a little worried, to be honest with you. We came out a little sleepy, obviously, and it seems that when you get back from those road trips, for whatever reason, that first period is tough, it was a tough one.”
• On Reaves scoring, “it’s about time, I mean, we love Reavo, but he gets around the net and scores a couple of big goals for us. He was really excited and I know our team loved it when he got in front of the net and scored those goals. He started the comeback and it was real big for us, that line got things rolling and we played really well after the first period.”
• What did Reaves do well, “moving his feet, looks like he’s quick, feet are moving, worked hard in practice lately, I know that. His feet are moving and he’s a different player, a little quicker and around the puck and a big guy forechecking like that, guys don’t like to get hit. He’s a big man and tough to maintain around the net.”
• On their resiliency, “we weren’t happy with what was going on tonight and after the first period we talked about it and said we are only down two goals, we didn’t play well at all, but we are down two goals and let’s get going. We got a great crowd here tonight and everything was going against us and we found a way to get those goals. Reavo got the first and the guys were excited on the bench and then he got the second goal for us and it seemed like the momentum tipped up and we just played a lot better. We were skating in the first and that was a big difference, but second and third we came out and were moving our feet.”
• Did the rest of the team follow what the fourth line was doing, “definitely, no doubt. The rest of the team doesn’t play like that line, but they played better hockey and more containment in the offensive zone and we had some real good chances and it just turned over. When you get momentum from those guys playing the way they played, it’s great for your team.”
• On keeping that line together, “I liked the way they played in the past. Not every time you can get them, there are different lineups, Goodrow is moving around to different places, but I liked the way they played recently when they played together, played a real good game tonight.”
• On Chytil with Strome and Panarin, “At times.”
• They got better late in the game, “yep, definitely.”
• Was Dryden Hunt out for warmups, “no. We just had the 20 guys for warm ups. He’s ready to go, he’s cleared to play now.”

First Period:

• Ilya Mikheyev (6) Assists: Pierre Engvall (1)
• Mitchell Marner (8) (Power Play) Assists: John Tavares (21), William Nylander (21)
• Ryan Reaves (1) Assists: Adam Fox (35), Greg McKegg (3)
• Michael Bunting (9) Assists: Mitchell Marner (17), Auston Matthews (16)

Second Period:

• Ryan Reaves (2) Assists: Jacob Trouba (11), K’Andre Miller (5)
• Adam Fox (6) Assists: Artemi Panarin (29), Ryan Strome (21)

Third Period:

• Ryan Strome (9) Assists: Ryan Lindgren (4), Artemi Panarin (30)
• Chris Kreider (25) Assists: Jacob Trouba (12), Mika Zibanejad (22)
• Adam Fox (7) Assists: Mika Zibanejad (23)

Stats:

7:20 PM: Filip Chytil remains on the line with Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome. Alexis Lafreniere is with Barclay Goodrow and Julien Gauthier. (Staple)

Dryden Hunt is a scratch. (NHL)

6:24 PM: Gerard Gallant met with the media and said (NYR):

• Who is your goalie, “Shesterkin….and we got a full lineup.”
• What are the lines, “You’ll find out in an hour, I want the Leafs to do a little bit of work and thinking. (laugh)
• What went into the lineup decision, “same as always…not a lot went into it. Like I said, our team is available, we put our lines together like we always do.”

The NHL has announced that the Rangers schedule has changed in the following ways:

• 2/15 against Boston at 7 PM (Was previously scheduled for 4/24)
• 2/17 against Detroit at 7 PM (Was postponed from 12/27)
• 2/20 in Ottawa at 5 PM (Was postponed from 11/20)
• 4/27 against Montreal (Postponed from 12/22)

The game against the Islanders that was postponed had already been rescheduled for March 17th.

The NHL has announced that Mika Zibanejad has won the voting to fill the last spot for the Metro All-Star team but will not attend due to “personal reasons.”

He joins Adam Fox and Chris Kreider as All-Stars.

Pittsburgh’s Jake Guentzel, who finished second in the voting, will go in Zibanejad’s place.

3:03 PM: Tim Gettinger and Jonny Brodzinski have been sent to Hartford. (NYR)

1:10 PM: Gerard Gallant spoke after practice and said (NYR):

• Who is your goalie tomorrow, “tomorrow? You aren’t going to find out until tomorrow (smile). 5:30 PM tomorrow night I’ll let you know. Me and Benny haven’t even talked about it yet, he’ll tell me shortly.”
• Any concern with Strome not practicing for two days, “no, he’ll be ready to go tomorrow, another maintenance. Obviously, I’d like to see him skate today, but he’s ready to go.”
• Are Hunt and Goodrow good to go, “yea, they should be fine. He’s out of protocol, obviously, they both skated today, I don’t see any issues with them. We’ll make a decision tomorrow.”