Rangers' Filip Chytil relishes chance to play on a line with Artemi Panarin
Filip Chytil of the Rangers skates during the first period during game against the Coyotes at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 13. Credit: Errol Anderson
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — A team can’t lose a game the way the Rangers did Saturday and not do something.
Coach Gerard Gallant said Sunday that he was angry after seeing his team give up four goals in the third period to blow a three-goal lead in a 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday afternoon.
Gallant’s instinct after the game, he said, was to punish his players with a hard practice Sunday. But with a game to prepare for against the Devils (18-4) on Monday, he changed his mind.
“Last night you want to skate the [butts] off them, and today you want to get ready for tomorrow against New Jersey, a real good team,’’ Gallant said.
What Gallant did do was change up his forward lines again. After trying Artemi Panarin at right wing on the top line Saturday, he moved him back to the second line Sunday. He also gave him two new linemates, Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko.
Vincent Trocheck, Panarin’s usual centerman, didn’t practice after taking a big hit from Edmonton’s Warren Foegele on Saturday, but Gallant said that wasn’t the reason he had Chytil skating with Panarin.
“We’ll find out [Monday] how it’s going to work, but I’m excited about it,’’ said Chytil, whose locker room stall is next to Panarin’s at the Rangers’ practice rink. “[Panarin] can create space for himself, he can create space for all other four players when he is on the ice. So for me, it’s just, find the spots and I know that he can find me. And I can shoot.’’
Although Panarin, who had a goal overturned Saturday by a replay review, has gone 12 games without a goal, the move suggests Gallant believes it’s time to see if Chytil is ready to move up in the lineup. Chytil has played well (four goals, six assists in 16 games) in a third-line role.
“It feels good,’’ Chytil said of Gallant’s apparent confidence in him. “I’m confident in myself, a lot. But when you see if your coach has confidence in you . . . I need just to show him that I deserve that; that I fit there, to play with [Panarin]. This for me, it’s motivation.’’
Chytil played with Panarin in the preseason for one game — against the Devils, coincidentally — when he stepped in at the last minute for Trocheck, who was unable to play because he was ill. The combination (with right wing Vitali Kravtsov) worked well, and Panarin scored a goal.
Chytil relishes the opportunity to play with Panarin, whose 24 points (five goals, 19 assists) are tied with defenseman Adam Fox for the team lead.
“I love competing, so for me, I’ll compete to stay in this position, play with Bread,’’ he said. “That’s perfect.’’
Notes & quotes: Fox, who the Rangers said was “under the weather,’’ and defenseman Ryan Lindgren, who suffered an upper-body injury Saturday, did not skate. Lindgren is “day-to-day,’’ the team said . . . Gallant said he isn’t sure if Kravtsov, who last played Nov. 12, will get back in the lineup Monday. “Right now he’s our extra forward,’’ he said. “He’s going to have to wait his turn.’’
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
