Peter Laviolette, the coach of the New York Rangers, has stated often this season: Don’t write New York’s defense pairings with a pen. This is because there are a lot of reasons why the couples could alter and nothing is permanent.
However, when the Rangers visit the NHL-best Winnipeg Jets at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, the defense pairings stay the same for the fourth consecutive game. And Laviolette has a straightforward explanation for why.
“Right now, I’m just trying to give it some time to settle in before we evaluate,” Laviolette said after Friday’s morning skate.
Since the season began, the Rangers’ defensive pairings have been in flux. A key reason has been Ryan Lindgren’s absence for the first five games due to a jaw injury. Rookie Victor Mancini’s impressive early performances have created opportunities to shuffle the lineup, while Zac Jones has also been playing well since rejoining the rotation.
Lindgren’s return has required some adjustments to get him back to form. Initially paired with Mancini, he then skated with Jacob Trouba, and has now been reunited with longtime partner Adam Fox.
Currently, Lindgren’s expected goals-for percentage (xGF) sits at 44.20 percent, according to Natural Stat Trick, and the Rangers have been outscored 5-4 with him on the ice. However, his numbers should improve with Fox (whose 60.38 percent xGF leads Rangers defensemen) as his partner again, and once Lindgren can remove the protective bubble mask he’s been wearing since the injury.
Zac Jones, Braden Schneider bring stability to Rangers blue line
Reuniting Lindgren with Fox, as well as Miller with Trouba, may have been inevitable, and it’s played a key role in stabilizing the Rangers’ defensive pairings. Another factor contributing to this consistency has been the solid performance of the Jones-Schneider pairing. Since rejoining the lineup after being a healthy scratch in five of the first six games, Jones has notched three assists in three games, and together with Schneider, they’ve been a reliable unit. This duo has encountered fewer challenges in their own zone compared to pairs like Miller-Trouba.
“They’re playing well. I think Zac is playing well,” head coach Peter Laviolette commented. “He and ‘Schneids’ have been a good, very reliable pair.”
Schneider has particularly stood out as an unsung hero for the Rangers this season. The 23-year-old leads the team with a plus-10 rating and is logging a career-high average of 17:34 in ice time. Playing both his natural right side and shifting to his off-side when needed, Schneider has been excellent in both roles alongside multiple partners.
With an impressive expected goals-for percentage of 51.88 percent, he has also contributed two goals and five points so far this season.
Currently, Mancini is the odd man out, despite recording a goal, three assists, and a plus-3 rating in his nine games. The 22-year-old’s defensive metrics have been trending downward, and head coach Peter Laviolette recently mentioned that it might be beneficial for the rookie to focus on practice and observe from the sidelines for a while.
However, the lineup is not set in stone. For instance, something could happen in the upcoming game against the Jets that might prompt a change. “Things change all the time. They’re not changing tonight … but things do move based on shots, based on opponent, based on how guys are playing. Same thing with the forwards,” Laviolette explained.
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