The Rangers are getting goals from players throughout the lineup

November 19th, 2015 8:39 am

Henrik Lundqvist said recently that it’s “huge” for the Rangers that they don’t need to rely on one line or just a few guys to score and create offense. 

He said that the ability to have scoring up and down the lineup “gives confidence to the group” and that moving forward it will be important to have different players step up at different times

Derek Stepan said that the Rangers have really good depth that should help them through the season and into the playoffs. (NYR)

The only Ranger to play at least 14 games this season and not record a goal is Dan Boyle.

Mats Zuccarello leads the Rangers with 9 goals, Oscar Lindberg is second with 7, Derick Brassard has 6, Kevin Hayes and Derek Stepan have 5, Chris Kreider, JT Miller, Ryan McDonagh, Jesper Fast and Kevin Klein have 3 and Rick Nash and Dan Girardi have 2.

Dan Boyle is planning to retire at the end of the season

November 19th, 2015 7:05 am
Dan Boyle said that “nothing is for sure” but that he is leaning towards retirement at the end of the season. (North Jersey)

He said that it’s not something physical that has him leaning towards retirement but more of a mental issue and not wanting to be away from his kids as they grow up. (North Jersey)

Boyle has two young daughters and said that at a “certain point” you don’t want to miss anymore of them growing up. (North Jersey)

Boyle is in the final year of a two-year contract with a cap hit of $4.5 million.

Boyle back in, Etem reamins outr

Winners of nine straight and going for a franchise record 10th in a row on Thursday night at Amalie Arena against the Lightning, the Rangers will make just two alterations to their lineup from Sunday’s 4-3 win over the Maple Leafs at Madison Square Garden.

Defenseman Dan Boyle will re-enter the lineup after scoring the shootout winner in Saturday’s 2-1 shootout win at Ottawa. Rookie Dylan McIlrath was a minus-2 in 11:00 against the Maple Leafs. Boyle has three assists in 14 games as he returns to Tampa Bay, where he played parts of six seasons with the Lightning from 2001-2008, including being an integral member of their 2004 Stanley Cup winner.

And Henrik Lundqvist will be back in net after Antti Raanta won his fourth straight to start his Rangers’ career. Lundqvist brings a 10-2-2 record, a 1.69 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage into the game, which will be the first time the Rangers face the Lightning since their 2-0 loss in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final on May 29 at the Garden.

From today’s fast-paced and well-organized practice, here is the projected lineup (no surprises):
Rick Nash-Derick Brassard-Mats Zuccarello
Chris Kreider-Derek Stepan-J.T. Miller
Oscar Lindberg-Kevin Hayes-Viktor Stalberg
Dominic Moore-Jarret Stoll-Jesper Fast

Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi
Marc Staal-Dan Boyle
Keith Yandle-Kevin Klein
Henrik Lundqvist

PP1: McDonagh-Stepan, Nash-Brassard-Zuccarello
PP2: Yandle-Boyle, Kreider-Hayes-Lindberg

Yandle, whose handle-bar mustache has been dubbed “Yandle Bars,” suffered somewhat of a fat lip in practice when he was hit with a stick at the crease and was dripping blood as he skated back to the bench. But he was OK and joking about his looks later on so no worries going forward.

No morning skate planned for the Rangers on Thursday.