Rangers coach Gerard Gallant mum on whether 'Kid Line' will be reunited in Game 3
Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant talks with referee TJ Luxmore, lower right, during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Friday. Credit: AP/Gene J. Puskar
GREENBURGH, N.Y. – Rangers coach Gerard Gallant broke up the Kid Line for the third period of Friday’s 2-0 loss in Game 2 of their second-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes, putting Alexis Lafrenière on the right wing of the Artemi Panarin-Ryan Strome line, and moving Andrew Copp to Lafrenière’s spot with Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko. Later in the game, he moved Kakko to the right side of the Mika Zibanejad-Chris Kreider line.
Gallant, though, wouldn’t say on Saturday whether he’ll reunite the Kid Line for Game 3 or try something different.
“I haven't decided,’’ he said. “I'll look at the tape and watch over stuff, and we'll decide on lines (Sunday). But yeah, there's different options for our group.’’
Lafrenière said he doesn’t care where he plays.
“I'm ready to play with whoever,’’ he said. “We weren't generating that many chances, so they just tried to change things up a little bit… Playing with ‘Stromer’ and ‘Bread (Panarin),’ they're world class players. So it's just trying to get open for them too.
“They're so good with the puck, they see everything,’’ he said. “So for me, it's to try to get a good forecheck, get pucks for them, and go to the net. And be ready to get some good looks with these guys, for sure.’’
Lindgren ready for Game 3
Banged-up defenseman Ryan Lindgren is good to go for Game 3 Gallant said, despite his having to miss a portion of Friday’s first period after suffering a bloody lip from taking a puck to the face.
“He gets through it. He's fine,’’ Gallant said of Lindgren. “He gets ready to play every game. He's sore during the game. You know, tape him up, wrap him up. He's a warrior. We need more of those guys. Every team wants those guys. That's playoff hockey. That's what it's all about. He does whatever it takes to get him ready to play the next game, and that's what we love him for.’’
Lindgren missed three games in the Rangers’ first-round series against Pittsburgh because of a lower body injury.
Blais still 'a little ways away'
Forward Sammy Blais, who practiced with the team in Raleigh, wearing a non-contact jersey, is out for this series, Gallant said. But the coach didn’t rule out Blais, who suffered a torn ACL in November, from playing in the postseason at some point.
“He's not ready to play yet, but he's doing good. He's coming,’’ Gallant said. “He's a little ways away. He's not ruled out for the end of the playoffs.’’
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.
