Rick Nash update, Miller back in lineup, Dom Moore improving

           As for the speculation that with Rick Nash (concussion) missing his 12^th game, the Rangers may be looking to add some offense in a trade,  head coach Alain Vigneault said:

             “I think we need to get the pieces that we have here to play better.  I’ve said that we need more from our back end. Right now, our back end, 5-on-5 after 10 games, were 16^th out of 16 in our conference as far as point production, 5 on 5, we’re in the middle of the pack as far as getting shots through, shots on net. Our forwards need to do a better job of screening the goaltender and getting to loose pucks. That’s how, as a group, I think we can generate better offense and probably score more goals. Defensively, we’ve been making some real strong plays, keeping the chances down. Offensively, we need to make some plays, too. These guys have got the potential to do it on a more consistent basis.”

             At practice today, Edmonton coach Dallas Eakins told Nail Yakupov, whose name was mentioned in a possible swap according to reports, that the rumors of a trade being imminent were "100 percent false."

          Nash, by the way, was at the team’s practice complex Tuesday for a team photo, but did not skate, and a team spokesman said today “nothing” was new. He remains on injured reserve.

            It is believed, as reported by Sportsnet’s John Shannon, that Nash did meet with Dr. Jeffrey Scott Kutcher, a concussion expert in Michigan who has worked with NHL players, including Sidney Crosby.

           Crosby said today that he had texted Nash shortly after he was knocked out of the Oct. 8^th game against the Sharks game by a high hit from San Jose defenseman Brad Stuart, who was suspended for two games.  I have been told that Nash did not visit specialist Dr. Ted Carrick, in Marietta, Ga., who helped Crosby in 2011. The team declined to comment about a visit to Michigan.

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          To battle the Eastern Conference-leading Penguins tonight, the Rangers plan to roll four lines and match defense pairs against Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

          That’s what Vigneault sketched out after the morning skate at Madison Square Garden. Henrik Lundqvist (4-6, 2.57 GAA) is back in net, and J.T. Miller, a healthy scratch against the Ducks, is back in the lineup, replacing Brandon Mashinter.

         The Penguins are 11-4-0, including 4-2-0 on the road; the Blueshirts (6-8-0) are 2-2 at home.

         When coaching in Vancouver, Vigneault said he hadn’t “seen Crosby and Malkin live very many times throughout the years so I’m excited and I think our players are anxious for this game. They know Pittsburgh, it’s a divisional game, they’re one of the best teams in the NHL and they’ve got some star players who get a lot of attention. They want to go on the ice and prove that they’re good players on a good team.”

           Miller, 20, who grew up in East Palestine, Ohio, not far from Pittsburgh.  has played 35 games in two years for the Rangers, but could be returned to the AHL at some point.

            “You’ve got to believe that he’s real excited and motivated to be in the NHL, real excited and motivated to stay in the NHL and be a regular contributor to a good team,” said Vigneault. “If tonight he gets a little more excited because he’s playing against Pittsburgh, that would be great for us. Hopefully he has a strong game on bothe ends of the rink; we’ll see where he fits in.”

              Against Carolina, “he made a couple mistakes that were evident to anybody watching the game, but we still threw him over the boards, it’s OK you make one, forget about that, go out there and play well. As a player, you’re going to make some mistakes, you can’t play a perfect game. When you have one, you focus on the next shift. Tonight he’s got to come here with a clear head, be in the moment.”       

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         Derek Dorsett, who took Tuesday off as a “maintenance day” for what he termed “bumps and bruises” will dress….Dominic Moore, who strained his oblique muscle on a faceoff in the first period against the Islanders, skated before practice for the first time. He said he felt better but was not sure whether he would make the trip to Columbus after the game….With the back-to-back, Cam Talbot (2-1-0, 1.96 GAA) is expected to make his fourth start in goal against the Blue Jackets, who have former Rangers Marian Gaborik, Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov.

           More in a few….