Regardless of a change to the protection for the primary time in 19 video games, the Rangers have been in a position to retake management of a matchup with the Bruins to come back away with a 3-2 win Wednesday evening at Madison Sq. Backyard.
With Urho Vaakanainen dominated out due to sickness, Zac Jones was inserted into the Rangers lineup for the primary time since Dec. 23.
Jones had served as a wholesome scratch within the earlier 18 straight video games, in addition to 20 of the final 21.
In complete, the 24-year-old defenseman has spent 26 video games watching from the press field this season.
“I believed he was actually good,” head coach Peter Laviolette stated of Jones. “Not simply shifting the puck and the skating, however for me, it was the best way he attacked defensively within the defensive zone. The best way he closed, there was further perspective in what he was doing on the market. That’s what we’ve been searching for, too.
“I believed he actually responded with a giant recreation. Typically these video games may be harder since you haven’t been in control.”
Paired with Braden Schneider, the duo mixed for 2 photographs on objective, two blocks and three hits within the win.
The complexion of the Rangers fourth line has modified drastically within the wake of Adam Edstrom’s probably season-ending lower-body damage.
What was a bruising forechecking unit composed of Edstrom, Matt Rempe and Sam Carrick, who started to chip in offensively as they developed chemistry, is now a trio who skated in simply their third recreation of the season collectively Wednesday evening in opposition to the Bruins amid the addition of Jimmy Vesey.
Whereas Vesey introduced a veteran presence to the road in Sunday’s win over the Golden Knights, their first recreation collectively since Nov. 25, Rempe logged his highest ice time of the season at 10:08 earlier than coming in at 8:18 in Wednesday’s win.
“I’d guess that Matt’s performed someplace between 8-10 minutes relying on penalty kill, energy play, relying on the rating of the sport if we’re down by a pair objectives and we’d double shift any person or transfer the strains round somewhat bit,” Laviolette stated about Rempe after follow Tuesday in Tarrytown. “I feel he’s performed an excellent job. He was bodily. I’d nonetheless wish to see somewhat bit extra with the puck from that group, offensively. Simply producing. Easy mindset, get it behind them, flip it over, get it on web, crash the online, great things like that.
“He’s are available and performed fairly good protection and chipped in with some physicality. I’d wish to push that offensive boundary just a bit bit.”
Igor Shesterkin stopped 15 of the 17 photographs he noticed Wednesday evening to enhance to 18-18-2 on the season.