'Kid Line' combines for another goal, continues to impress for Rangers
Rangers center Filip Chytil, center, celebrates his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes with left wing Alexis Lafrenière, left, right wing Kaapo Kakko, second from left, defenseman Adam Fox (23) and defenseman Ryan Lindgren (55) during the first period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Credit: AP/Chris Seward
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Kid Line continues to lead the way for the Rangers.
Filip Chytil, 22, had the lone goal in the Rangers’ 2-1 overtime loss to the Hurricanes in Game 1 of their second-round series on Wednesday night at PNC Arena. Alexis Lafreniere, 20, had the lone assist and Kaapo Kakko, 21, had two chances that perhaps should have been goals.
“They were outstanding,” coach Gerard Gallant said. “That goal they scored and then they had four or five other great chances. It would have been great if they could finished another one but they played real good hockey. I’m real happy with them.”
Lafreniere is now the fourth 20-or-under Ranger in team history with at least five points in a single postseason. He rang a shot off the crossbar in the second period.
With the Rangers leading 1-0 in the third, Kakko could not connect on a breakaway at 11:19, then missed a wide-open net with a sharp-angle shot on his next shift.
Blais skating
Sammy Blais was back on the ice with Rangers teammates for the first time during Wednesday’s optional morning skate, a promising step in the scrappy right wing’s recovery from a right anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered on Nov. 14.
It’s still unlikely Blais will be available against the Hurricanes in this series.
“He worked hard and he’s got to that stage where he can start to skate now,” Gallant said. “It’s possible [this series]. I’m not going to rule him out today, but you could probably figure that out.”
Blue notes
Jacob Trouba had five blocked shots and a team-high six hits as he logged a game-high 28:13. The defenseman was also on the ice for both of the Hurricanes’ goals . . . Barclay Goodrow (lower body) did not skate despite the Rangers’ hope he can return at some point in this series. He’s been out since Game 1 against the Penguins in the first round.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
