Measuring progress in recovering from a concussion is an inexact science where one step forward can immediately be followed by two steps back.
But Mika Zibanejad does seem to be on the right track. The Blueshirts’ first-line center, sidelined for the last two games with the injury that was triggered by a hit he sustained against Detroit on Nov. 24, was able to work out on the stationary bike at the club’s practice rink Monday.
“I can’t tell you exactly where he is on the protocol, but he rode the bike,” said coach Alain Vigneault, whose team is in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. “He’s following the protocol. It’s day-by-day, how he feels.”
David Desharnais will continue to take Zibanejad’s spot between Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich while also sliding into the position temporarily vacated by No. 93 on the first power-play unit.
How’s this for a Corsi conundrum: The Kreider-Zibanejad-Buchnevich unit has played 171:31 five-on-five with a very healthy attempts-rate of 55.7 percent. But the unit has combined to score only four full-strength goals while on for eight against, for a minus-four rating. Meanwhile, the Kreider-Desharnais-Buchnevich line has a sickly possession rate of 37.8 in the tiny sample size of 21:46, but has combined to score three goals for a plus-two. Stats are courtesy of naturalstattrick.com.
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The power-play dynamic has necessarily changed with the lefty Desharnais replacing the right-handed Zibanejad, whose off-side one-timer from the circle has been a substantial weapon.
“Our options on our checklist are the same, but I think the process changes a little,” righty quarterback Kevin Shattenkirk said. “When I’m walking the line with the puck, I’m aware that it takes longer for the lefty on that side to get around on it for a shot, so I have to be looking to shoot more myself without giving up on that option. You can’t give away that option. At the same time, we’re developing others. Any good penalty killer understands the options so it’s on us — and on me — to outthink the guys we’re going against. There are always those adjustments to be made off reads and personnel changes, but it is still up to us to execute.”
Filip Chytil is on a day-to-day basis for the AHL Wolf Pack after sustaining what has been diagnosed as a cervical sprain when the 18-year-old center went face-first into the glass on a check from behind at 15:49 of the third period of Saturday’s overtime loss to the Marlies.
The Rangers play six games in nine days beginning with Friday’s match in Washington that’s the front end of a back-to-back that concludes the following night at home against the Devils and no, Henrik Lundqvist is not going to start them all.
Vigneault did not specify when, but the coach did say that he expects Ondrej Pavelec, whose last start came Oct. 28 in Montreal, to get the call a couple of times within that stretch.
The 30-year-old Czech backup, who has started three games, played the final 42:22 in relief against the Panthers on Nov. 28 and allowed two goals on 21 shots. Pavelec is 1-4 (two losses in relief) overall with a 3.56 goals-against average and .889 save percentage.
“I would say [Pavelec] is going to play at least two,” Vigneault said. “That’s what I’m planning.”