Powe Injury Likely Means Kreider Stays
When Brian Boyle was a healthy scratch during the Rangers three game winning streak, a number of readers wondered how he'd ever get back into the lineup. My response...those things just work themselves out.
And it looks like that's exactly what happened last night with the head injury to Darroll Powe. While you never like to see anyone being led off the ice with the dazed look Powe had on his face, his injury has cleared up the Rangers muddied line-up situation for the foreseeable future as it's all but certain that Chris Kreider has been given a new lease on life in the NHL and will be back in the line-up.
I see two possible scenarios for the Rangers line-up. Both include Boyle being dropped to the fourth line, while one would be re-uniting the Kreider-Miller-Callahan line while bumping Pyatt back up with Richards and Gabork. While the other would be to insert Kreider onto the third line and bump Miller over to center with Pyatt remaining on the wing.
A wild card possibility could be the Rangers sticking with their plan to re-assign Kreider to the Whale and recalling Brandon Mashinter to play on the fourth line. However, despite my obvious obsession with Mashinter, I'm not so sure the Rangers are ready to give a guy who's really had no prior success at the pro level a chance to learn on the job. Might as well just do that with Kreider who has way more offensive potential. Would be great to see Mashinter get a chance though.
Here's video of Powe injury...
Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section.
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Did he hit his head on the ice? I can't tell what happened at the end there. But its a shame about what happened. I really liked his game and hope that he can recover from this ASAP.
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Pretty sweet move by Halpern last night ... I saw it in the highlights ...
Keep giving that 4th line minutes!
I think what we are starting to see is that Sather did a great job piecing together the depth of this team. A lot of players like Prust and Fedotenko left for money, amongst others. But with Asham, Halpern, and hopefully Powe when he returns soon he made a strong 4th line. It just took time for them to get some chemistry. Hopefully, the Rangers don't die now because the 4th line gets more than 3 minutes of ice time at the end of the season.
@slapshot13j I dont even think we made Feds an offer. We signed Pyatt, Halpern, and Asham, but I never even remembering hearing about the Rangers offering Feds anything.
Like you said, I would love to see monster mash get a shot. He continues to impress. Yesterday he got the game winner for the whale. But I think it will take another injury (which no one wants to happen) to get him in the line up. So sad about Powe. Speedy recovery!
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the only questions here really is whether or not Kreider stays or not and ice time. As far as the lines go, they're only going to go through the same, never-ending changing and moving around at the coach's whim.
As far as ice time, I want to see Asham and Halpern getting more ice time. And Callahan continuing to get 20+ minutes. If they want to get back to what they were last year, I think the best way to do it is to focus on the crazy forecheck, punishing defenders and slamming into them down low. Asham was solid with the 3:36 of ice time he got. He's quick, he hits, he hasnt been doing anything stupid. He could be the kind of player that other players do not want to play against and that coould set the tone for the rest of the team a la Prust.
@AnnoyingJoe I'm with you on Asham and the 4th line. They need more minutes for the Rangers to continue to be successful.
Just saw this collision for the first time. Scary. Having gotten concussions myself, this is definitely one. Hope he doesn't end up like Sauer (who I miss).
Really like Powe's game. Kills penalties, and brings a combination of speed/skill/grit to the 4th line that we haven't seen in a while. Powe/Halpern/Asham have quietly done the job, and Torts trusted them as they were getting shifts late in the Boston & Islander games.
@IAMABLUESHIRT These aren't the Yankees. No need to stock up on every available super star.
Did they say what was wrong with him yet, or just a head injury? He was so unsteady on his feet when he got up. That was a nasty spill.
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Who is going to take Powe's spot on the penalty kill? Yesterday I thought Washington moved the puck well against us on the PP, Lundqvist just stood on his head. As for the lines I would like to see the Captain America line reunited. Neither Jt miller or Kreider have had any success since it was broken up. But can Torts take a hint?
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@slapshot13j While PK will take hit without Powe, still enough bobies with Halpern, Cally, Step, Hags and Boyle. Could also use Nash if they have to.
@AnnoyingJoe @KevinDeLury to me he was almost more of a poor man's callahan and not prust. He did anything the team needed. I wanted to see him get more ice time too.
I'd like to see Miller and Boyle on a line with Kreider. Park Boyle or Miller in front of the net and get some garbage goals. I'd also like to see Boyle on the pp for the same reason.
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@KevinDeLury @CareyBrandsdorfer fourth line has been giving a little more offense than usual, and getting more playing time than usual, so maybe pyatt could add some scoring ability. And if it doesn't work, just drop boyle down. Not like torts uses the lines consistently anyway.
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@KevinDeLury @CareyBrandsdorfer -- mentioned the same below ... Pyatt is tough along the boards, so he could serve well on a 4th line, but it would be a waste if his minutes are too limited.
On a somewhat separate note, but speaking of the 4th line, Asham is playing okay, huh?
... in the meantime, I expect to see both lineups Kevin mentions (and I also hope to get a look at Mashinter at some point). The Kreider - Miller - Callahan has had some success, as did the Pyatt - Richards - Gabork line. Seems like Pyatt has been a bit quieter of late, bumping him to the first line could get him going, but he can be effective on a third line with Kreider and Miller too. Wouldn't be surprised if Torts does something unpredictable and finds Boyle a spot on the third line. This isn't my favorite strategy, but you know how Torts likes to try all kinds of different things.
@AG_Blue Agree that there's a good chance Torts leaves Boyle on the third line. Not sure who would drop to the fourth though. Miller?
@KevinDeLury --- maybe even Pyatt. I'd hate to see the rookies serve 4th line time, but anything is possible. Torts, of course, is beyond reproach ... except for here on the blog ;)
It's difficult to get a good view of the collision, but the look on Powe's face says a lot. That's not an expression that comes up too often. I hope our worst fears will be assuaged whenever we get an update ...
@AG_Blue You're right. From the video it really doesn't look too bad, but that look on his face was scary. Can't imagine it's not a concussion.
@KevinDeLury -- definitely got his bell rung. Sure is difficult to imagine it's not a concussion, but I'm gonna hold out hope.
