As expected, Sammy Blais is in tonight for the NY Rangers, taking Julien Gauthier’s spot in the lineup. Jake Leschyshyn and Will Cuylle will join Blais on the fourth line. Blais returning was expected since his recall from his conditioning stint.
We’re back, baby.#NYR practice lines. Top 9 looks unchanged:
Panarin – Zib – Vesey
Kreider – Trocheck – Goodrow
Laf – Chytil – Kakko
Cuylle – Leschyshyn – GauthierKravtsov is skating as an extra on the third line. Blais as an extra on the 4th.
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) February 5, 2023
Blais in for Gauthier isn’t a needle mover in either direction. It’s one of those ‘meh’ moves that will get some riled up. To me, the miss is not having Vitali Kravtsov in the lineup again, as the team needs offense and instead is running with two bottom six players in their top six.
Ideally, both Vesey and Goodrow are on the fourth line come playoff time, and I think that’s what Gerard Gallant has in mind as well. The process in getting there is certainly maddening.
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