New York Rangers Daily: Brennan Othmann’s NHL chops; Wild getting healthy for Garden visit
The focus Monday is on top New York Rangers prospect Gabe Perreault, who’s now eligible to turn pro after his sophomore season at Boston College officially ended in a 3-1 regional-round loss to Denver.
But let’s shift the spotlight for a bit away from a prospect who’s not here yet to one who is.
Brennan Othmann is playing some pretty good hockey in his first extended NHL call-up with the Rangers. In 16 games since being recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League in late February, the 22-year-old forward has two assists and is plus-6, averaging 9:25 TOI.
The numbers don’t jump out at you, though being on for nine goals for and three against 5v5 is pretty good for a rookie, as is his nearly 50 percent (49.56 percent) expected goals share, per Natural Stat Trick.
But the kid passes the eye test. He plays hard, is physical (12.34 hits per 60 minutes) and gets to the dirty areas where goals are scored most often in this league. You can see the talent even more now that he’s been elevated to a top-six role, playing alongside Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck. That pass he made to Adam Fox to make it 3-0 Rangers on Saturday against the San Jose Sharks? Pretty legit.
Othmann’s still waiting on that first NHL goal — zero in 19 games (including three last season) to date. But it’s coming. Sooner rather than later. You can feel it.
Don’t forget that Othmann scored 50 goals in junior and has 21 as a rookie pro with Hartford last season, second most on the team. His 49 points were fourth among all AHL rookies. He’s got skills.
You know what else there’s to like? That he’s not only holding his own in the NHL — now on a top line, not just the fourth line — but is doing so at the most critical juncture of the season, when every game, every point in the standings is crucial. That bodes well for his future.
The Rangers pipeline is not overflowing after Othmann and Perreault. One is proving his NHL chops now, the other could be joining him soon enough. The pressure is on because the Rangers need both to make it in the NHL.
Stay tuned.
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New York Rangers news
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And here are our winners and losers from New York’s must-win victory in San Jose.
NHL news and rumors
The Montreal Canadiens righted themselves with a 4-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Sunday. They are now tied with the Rangers in points, but own the second wild card in the Eastern Conference by percentage points. They’ve played one fewer game than the Rangers.
The Islanders failed to pick up any ground in the East playoff race, losing to the Carolina Hurricanes 6-4 in Raleigh,
A pair of injured Minnesota Wild star forwards, Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek, returned to practice Sunday, though their availability to play against the Rangers on Wednesday is not yet known.
Connor McDavid has missed four games with a lower-body injury for the Edmonton Oilers and will be out at least two more games. Coach Kris Knoblauch added that the superstar’s return “should be before the regular season ends.”
Tyler Seguin is progressing and getting closer to a return to the Dallas Stars after hip surgery in December. Seguin took part in the morning skate Saturday for the first time since he returned to the ice.
Recent first-round picks Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel made their NHL debuts with the Chicago Blackhawks in a 5-2 loss to the Utah Hockey Club.
Alex Ovechkin scored his 890th career goal in the Washington Capitals’ 8-5 home loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Ovi is five shy of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goals record (894).
Sidney Crosby scored the only goal and the Pittsburgh Penguins shut out the Ottawa Senators 1-0 in overtime.
Watch Crosby’s OT winner for the Penguins.
Leon Draisaitl returned from injury Saturday and scored twice to become the first NHL player to reach 50 goals this season in the Oilers’ 3-2 overtime win against the Calgary Flames. His second goal of the night, 51st of the season, was the game winner in OT; he set an NHL record by scoring his sixth overtime goal this season.
Kyle Connor had a goal and an assist to lead the Winnipeg Jets past the Vancouver Canucks 3-1.
The Los Angeles Kings secured their franchise-record 27th home win with an 8-1 thrashing of the San Jose Sharks.
The Toronto Maple Leafs concluded their California road trip with a 3-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks, stretching their lead in the race for first place in the Atlantic Division to three points over the Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning, each of which has one game in hand.
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