New York Rangers coach Peter Laviolette has said it many times already this season: Don’t use a pen when writing New York’s defense pairs. That’s because nothing is permanent and the pairs could change for a multitude of reasons.
That said, the defense pairs remain the same for a fourth straight game Tuesday, when the Rangers host the NHL-best Winnipeg Jets at Madison Square Garden. And Laviolette has a simple reason why that’s the case.
“Right now, I’m just trying to give it some time, let it settle in, and then we’ll evaluate,” Laviolette explained after the morning skate Friday.
The combinations have been in some flux since the season started. Part of that is because Ryan Lindgren missed the first five games with a jaw injury. The emergence early on by rookie Victor Mancini created an opportunity to move some pieces around — as has the recent strong play of Zac Jones since he’s returned to the lineup.
Plus, trying to get Lindgren back up to speed has necessitated a few changes. The veteran was paired with Mancini when he first returned from injury, then skated with Jacob Trouba and now is back with longtime partner Adam Fox.
Lindgren’s xGF of 44.20 percent, per Natural Stat Trick, hasn’t been great and the Rangers have been outscored 5-4 with him on the ice. But things should get better now that he’s again skating with Fox (xGF of 60.38 percent, best among Rangers defensemen) and when he’s finally able to shed the bubble mask he’s worn since the injury.
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Zac Jones, Braden Schneider bring stability to Rangers blue line
Reuniting Lindgren and Fox, as well as K’Andre Miller and Trouba, may have been inevitable. It also is at the heart of the recent stability with the defense pairs.
But so, too, is the strong play by the Jones-Braden Schneider pair. After being a healthy scratch in five of six games, Jones has three assists in three games since returning to the lineup. He and Schneider have been reliable and not struggled nearly as much as, say, the Miller-Trouba pair, when defending in their own end.
“They’re playing well. I think Zac is playing well,” Laviolette said. “I think he and ‘Schneids’ have been a good pair, very reliable.”
Schneider has really impressed and been an unsung hero of sorts for the Rangers this season. The 23-year-old is a team-best plus-10 and is averaging an NHL career-high 17:34 TOI. He’s played his natural right side and shifted to his off-side when needed — and been excellent in both spots, with multiple partners.
His xgf is an impressive 51.88 percent and he’s contributed two goals and five points this season.
Mancini is the odd man out right now, despite a goal, three assists and a plus-3 in nine games. The 22-year-old’s defense metrics were heading the wrong direction, and Laviolette recently explained it’s best for the rookie to practice, and then sit and watch a bit.
But something could happen against the Jets, for example, that changes the coach’s mind. Remember, nothing should be written in ink.
“Things changes all the time. They’re not changing tonight … but things do move based on shots, based on opponent, based on how guys are playing. Same thing with the forwards.”
