LOS ANGELES — Injuries and unforeseen factors have shaped many of manager Peter Laviolette's coaching decisions this season, but the Rangers bench manager made a personnel change of his own Saturday.
Tyler Pitlick returned to action for the first time in eight games, part of which was recovering from a lower-body injury. As a result, Nick Bonino was a healthy scratch for the first time this season.
“The last time I played was [the Kings]he played with [Barclay] Goodrow and [Jimmy] Vesey and those guys did a really good job handling some tough minutes and D-zone starts,” Laviolette said before the Rangers lost 2-1 to the Kings. “He was healthy. I don't want anyone to sit out too long, so I'll give him a chance to come back.”
During the Rangers' best game of the season, Pitlick, who played 9 minutes and 41 seconds in the loss, was on the right wing of the fourth line along with Goodrow and Vesey.
That trio has put up much stronger numbers than Bonino, who has used them under center in his last two games and seven games from late October to early November.
In 183 minutes, 28 seconds of ice time before Saturday's game, Vesey-Goodrow-Pitlick's line had four goals and eight goals for the Rangers, with an expected goals percentage of 55.89, according to Natural Stat Trick. There is.
They also outscored their opponents 87-68.
“[Bonino and I] We talked this morning,” said Laviolette, who coached Bonino for two seasons in Nashville. “It's never easy. It's not a big job to tell good people who care that they're not in the 12 tonight. It's always tough. There are no decisions to be made regarding the lineup. It’s necessary.”
Additionally, Erik Gustafsson was ruled out ahead of the Rangers' matchup with the Kings. The Rangers classified him as routine with a lower-body injury.
Gustafsson did not participate with his team for most of Saturday's morning skate, but the 31-year-old blueliner showed up to skate alone at the end. The fact that he's still skating indicates the injury isn't long-term.
Laviolette did not rule out the possibility of Gustafsson returning to action for the final two games of the West Coast trip at Anaheim and San Jose.
Gustafsson was replaced by Zach Jones on the back end next to Braden Schneider. Although inserted into the lineup when Mika Zibanejad was injured at the last minute due to illness, Jones has been injured in 15 of the past 16 games.
“I think he played well for us,” Laviolette said of Jones, who has three assists in 15 games this season. “He has a tough job and responsibility of staying ready for the game. He has to work every day, he goes out with his coaches, he's pushed himself, so he has the right mindset. And you really have to have a positive attitude. I think he handled it really well.
“In the games he played in, I noticed his skating, his ability to move the puck, his breakouts, his first passes, his ability to play offense. He competes. I'm sure he's excited to get back there. I think you are.”
