Tyler Pitlick returns to Rangers’ lineup after string of scratches
LOS ANGELES Injuries and unpredictable factors have dictated much of Peter Laviolettes coaching decisions this season, but the Rangers bench boss made his own personnel change Saturday.
Tyler Pitlick drew back into the lineup for the first time in eight games, over some of which the forward was recovering from a lower-body injury. As a result, Nick Bonino was a healthy scratch for the first time this season.
The last time we played the Kings, he played with Barclay Goodrow and Jimmy Vesey and they did a really good job handling some tough minutes and D-zone starts, Laviolette said before the Rangers lost, 2-1, to the Kings. Hes been healthy. I dont want anybody sitting too long, so he gets a chance to come back in.
During the Rangers strongest stretch of the season, Pitlick, who played 9:41 in the loss, was on the right wing of the fourth line with Goodrow and Vesey.
That trio has posted much stronger numbers than Bonino has while hes centered those two in the previous two games and a stretch of seven games at the end of October into early November.
Tyler Pitlick reacts after losing his balance during the Rangers’ 2-1 loss to Kings. Getty ImagesIn 183:28 of ice time before Saturdays game, according to Natural Stat Trick, the Vesey-Goodrow-Pitlick line has been on the ice for four Rangers goals and eight against while owning a 55.89 expected goals for percentage.
Theyve also out-attempted opponents 87-68.
Bonino and I talked this morning, said Laviolette, who coached Bonino for twoseasons in Nashville. Its never easy. Not a great part of the job telling good people that care that theyre not part of the 12 tonight. Thats always tough. Decisions have to be made when it comes to the lineup.
Additionally, Erik Gustafsson was ruled out ahead of the Rangers matchup with the Kings. The Rangers have classified him as day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Gustafson didnt participate with the team in a majority of their morning skate on Saturday, but the 31-year-old blueliner came out to skate by himself at the end. The fact that hes still skating indicates the injury shouldnt be long-term.
Laviolette didnt rule out the possibility of Gustafsson returning to the lineup in the final two games of the west-coast trip in Anaheim and San Jose.
Zac Jones replaced Gustafsson on the back end next to Braden Schneider. Drawing into the lineup when Mika Zibanejad was a last-minute scratch because he was sick, Jones had been scratched in 15 of the previous 16 games.
I think hes played well for us, Laviolette said of Jones, who now has three assists through 15 games this season. Hes got a tough job and responsibility of staying game ready. You got to work every day and youre out there with the coaches and youre getting pushed by yourself and you really got to have the right mindset and a positive attitude. I think hes handled it really well.
The games that hes been in, for me, Ive noticed his skating, his ability to move a puck, breakout, first pass, offensively. He competes. Im sure hes excited to get back in there.
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