What Alain Vigneault said after practice today

November 18th, 2015 4:29 pm
Alain Vigneault met with reporters prior to the Rangers flight to Tampa Bay and said (NYR):

• “I’ve had a couple of long ones but exactly I couldn’t tell you.”
• On practice this week, “well, yesterday we had a skill day. Something that you don’t see very often. Usually for an 11AM practice we have 4-5 guys go on at 10 and go with Marc and work on their skills. That is a constant with the organization. I had a skill coach in Vancouver and did the same thing. It helps the guys improve different aspects of their game. Yesterday all we did, because we had three days, split the forwards into two groups and keep the D together. We had a good day yesterday, a good practice today and we are ready to go to Tampa.”

• On Ryan McDonagh, “he has been playing much better, much better decisions with the puck, seeing the offensive possibilities quicker, jumping when it’s there. Ever since the day we put him back with Step on the PP he seems to have better jump and better decision making. We need Ryan McDonagh playing like he is right now.”
• On Tampa Bay, “I’m not sure about Tampa but I can talk about us, everyone in that room knows that that is the team that eliminated us from going to the Stanley Cup Final. 7th game, third period going in 0-0. From our standpoint I think it’s a big game and a serious game and I expect our guys to be highly motivated and very ready tomorrow.”
• On third line offense, “I think that in today’s game, it’s a four line game now, with six D and if you are going to win on a consistent basis or on a regular basis in this league. There is this much separating the teams, you need contributions throughout the lineup. Some nights it’s going to be guys on your third line, some nights in the fourth line , some nights it’s the top end guys, top end D, but you need contributions from everyone. Sometimes those contributions are big plays, big blocks, sometimes they are offensive plays. We have been able to get defensive plays and obviously contributions throughout our lineups on different nights.”
• On Dan Boyle, “he will play tomorrow.”
• Dylan and Emerson scratched tomorrow, “at this time, yes.”