dan-boyle

Boyle

Per Sean Hartnett, the Rangers have switched up the powerplay, most notably with Kevin Klein playing in place of Dan Boyle. Boyle will be a scratch tomorrow, and Dylan McIlrath will play.

PP1: Nash-Brassard-Zuccarello, Yandle-Klein
PP2: Kreider-Hayes-Miller, McDonagh-Stepan

There are a few things to note here. First is that McIlrath needs to play. Second is that Boyle is 39 years old, so getting him some extra rest isn’t a bad thing. Third is that, despite what some click-bait articles on the internet may lead you to believe, Boyle hasn’t been bad. He’s been, if anything unspectacular in his first three games.

There’s nothing wrong with getting your 39 year old some rest, especially after a long year last season and a full season of Cup aspirations to come. Since McIlrath will replace one of Boyle or Klein, and Klein has been the better of the two thus far, it makes sense to give McIlrath this game.

In the end, this is Alain Vigneault doing what he always does. He is tinkering with the lineup in October to see what he has on the roster. Boyle is a known quantity who may not have as much in the tank. McIlrath is unknown. The combination of rest for Boyle and playing time for McIlrath makes sense.

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