Gerard Gallant tore up the lineup card in no time at all.
This has happened often for the Rangers’ head coach this season, but it stood out more during Monday night’s 4-3 overtime win against the Devils at Madison Square Garden. Three consecutive games have been played with the same starting lineup, something that had only occurred twice before this season. But the team’s dismal start pushed his hand.
Gallant said, “I modify the lines too much. I simply wanted to see what would happen since I wasn’t pleased. I felt it went more smoothly. I’m getting sick of having to change the lines. Being a coach requires action on your part. Even though I want the lines to remain unchanged, I didn’t like what I was seeing.
“How many times have I now told you? The lines should stay the same. I want to give them a chance and let them go, but I didn’t like what I saw.
Mika Zibanejad and Filip Chytil, Gallant’s top two centers, were switched, reuniting the Kid Line. There were more adjustments in addition to the front lines. A missed clearing effort by Devils forward Dawson Mercer gave his team a 2-0 lead in the first period after Jacob Trouba had a particularly difficult opening few shifts.
Gallant and Libor Hajek demoted Trouba to the bottom partnership, while K’Andre Miller and Braden Schneider teamed up.
This year, there hasn’t been much consistency in the Rangers lineup.
The Blueshirts haven’t had much of an opportunity to build their chemistry, whether it was due to Vitali Kravtsov’s early run of injuries, the frequent back and forth between defenseman Zac Jones and Hajek, or the rearranging of line combinations.
The starting lineup not only defeated the weakened versions of both the defending Stanley Cup champion Avalanche and the Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights, but they also played a more unified team game. Additionally, if the management believes that those three will be a part of the team’s future, it must give the re-promotions of Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko to the top six as well as Chytil’s opportunity to compete for the No. 2 center position a chance.
After practice on Sunday, Gallant remarked, “I don’t want to adjust my lines. “I want to continue them. My players are doing a wonderful job. When I look at our lineup, the top three lines are generally reliable.
We know what our fourth line is and what they do for us, and they have recently done a fantastic job, but you can say that about any one of our top three lines on any given night. That is how it ought to be. Consistency, playing well, and having a strong performance from your whole roster and squad. I like our group.
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