NYR News

David Quinn met with the media prior to Tuesday’s game and spoke about Lias Andersson, Brett Howden and more (NYR):

Where will Lias play, “He will be in the middle between Vesey and Quickie.”

On Lias being called up, “We’ve been talking about it for a little while, he’s been playing really well in Hartford, doing all the things we asked him to do. With Howden’s situation we felt it would be a good time to call him up, we are short of centers and it was the perfect time but we have been talking about it for a little while. He’s earned this opportunity.”

Rangers center Brett Howden spoke with the media on Monday after leaving Sunday’s game in the second period with an injury (NYR):

• “I feel good to be here and just taking it day by day.”
• On what happened, “Vesey created a 2 on 1 and threw a pass and I hit the side of the net and my momentum, couldn’t stop and was trying to use the boards to stop me and their guy carried on into my and I just got squished into the boards.”
• On it not being very serious,  “All the guys were asking me about what it was because it could have been multiple things but really lucky that it was nothing serious, just an awkward play.”

• On the play, “I didn’t realize I went in that hard, it happened so fast, the game is so fast. Luckily it’s nothing serious.”
• Can you play tomorrow, “Right now we are taking it day by day for precautionary reasons. I feel good but taking it day by day to wait and see.”
• “It’s a pretty scary play, just the way that I went in and how fast I went in with nothing to stop me and my momentum carrying through and their guy coming too. I’m just really happy I’m doing fine and there is nothing serious wrong.”

Brett Howden is not taking part in Rangers practice today after being injured in last night’s game. (Stephenson)

Boo Nieves, Freddy Claesson and Ryan Spooner, who missed last night’s game, are all on the ice. (Stephenson)

The lines being used today are (Stephenson):

• Namestnikov, Zibanejad, Zuccarello
• Kreider, Hayes, Buchnevich
• Vesey, Spooner, Fast
• Cody McLeod, Boo Nieves/Filip Chytil, Vinni Lettieri

Brendan Smith is paired with Kevin Shattenkirk, Brady Skjei is skating with Tony DeAngelo and Marc Staal is skating with Neal Pionk. (Cyrgalis)

First Period: No Scoring

Second Period:

• Neal Pionk Assists: Vladislav Namestnikov, Mika Zibanejad
• Jimmy Vesey Assists: Brett Howden, Jesper Fast

Third Period:

• Conor Sheary
• Jimmy Vesey (ENG) Assists: Brady Skjei

Goalie: Henrik Lundqvist stopped 39 of 40 shots

3 Stars:

• 3: Vlad Namestnikov
• 2: Jimmy Vesey
• 1: Henrik Lundqvist

Stats:

Adam’s Thoughts:

• Well, this was a night for Henrik Lundqvist and he was as good as he had ever been against Buffalo. This was a real vintage “Rangers don’t great but Henrik steals two points” kind of game.
• Winning is important and excellent goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist is always welcome, but the best part of this win, to me, is the goal from Pionk, two from Vesey, strong play from Namestnikov, Howden’s assist and the Rangers young players playing a big part. This year is about progress and a game where Henrik steals it and Shattenkirk gets three points and Hayes and Zuccarello score is great, but it’s so much more important for the young Rangers to lead the way with Henrik and they did tonight.
• The Rangers were not good in the first, real good in the first minute of the second and then good in the second half of the third where they were able to protect a lead.
• The Rangers will be realistic about tonight’s game. They won because of their goalie, and best player, and because they scored two quick goals in the second but they were not very good. You win some nights when you aren’t supposed to and you lose some nights where you are the better team. Through the course of the season those games hopefully even out. Winning is the name of the game but development and progress is what the Rangers are looking for. Tonight is great and three in a row is nice but they need to be better in all facets except goaltending. Goaltending was out of this world tonight.