The New York Rangers spoiled the Buffalo Sabres’ home opener, pounding them 4-0 on Thursday night at the KeyBank Center. The win, the first official victory by first-year coach Mike Sullivan on Broadway, had a bitter aftertaste.
The Rangers lost second-line center Vincent Trocheck to injury. He left the game after recording an assist on Alexis Lafreniere’s first goal of the season. It’s unclear how the injury occurred. The 32-year-old center played just 7:48 over 12 shifts on the night.
Following the game, Sullivan provided a scant update, stating per The Athletic:
“He’s being evaluated for an upper-body injury right now. I don’t have anything else for you.”
The lack of details hardly drills down into what precisely happened to Trocheck. But the fear is that if he misses any significant time, the Rangers’ thin depth down the middle could make life complicated for Sullivan.
The Rangers are a top-heavy team with very little depth scoring. The Rangers will be back in action on Saturday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. There’s no telling if Trocheck will be available for that game.
If he can’t go, the Rangers may move Mika Zibanejad back to the middle on the second line. One of the club’s bottom six wingers could get a look on that line. Meanwhile, Lafreniere would most likely take Zibanejad’s spot on the top line with J.T. Miller and Will Cuylle.
“Tough” for Rangers to Lose Trocheck
Lafreniere, following the game, underscored just how devastating losing Trocheck is to the club. The Athletic quoted the New York forward, stating:
“It’s really tough. He’s one of our best players, obviously, and he does everything for us. Hopefully he gets well soon. I don’t even know how it happened.”
Beyond the cursory sentiments surrounding the crippling nature of losing Trocheck, no one knows how the injury occurred. Perhaps no one wants to say more than they should at this point.
But one has to think that the heightened sense of hermetism surrounding Trocheck’s injury suggests something serious may be afoot.
It’s not worth it to speculate on how long Trocheck might be out until there is further word. In the meantime, the Rangers may have to play without Trocheck for at least Saturday night’s game. The club cruised against the Sabres. So, that’s a good indication that the Rangers worked out whatever bugs plagued them on Opening Night against the Penguins.
Blue Shirts Could Dress Healthy Scratches
Sullivan could dress one of Juuso Parssinen or Jonny Brodzinski for Saturday night. Both players had been healthy scratches for the Rangers’ first two contests this season.
Both Parssinen and Brodzinski could play center or wing. Depending on what Sullivan chooses to do with the second-line spot, Parssinen might be the best choice to take over a spot on the wing in the bottom six.
The Rangers won’t likely call anyone up yet. Unless Trocheck lands on IR, the club may play out the situation with their current roster. If Trocheck does land on IR, a call-up may be forthcoming to fill out the club’s depth.
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