Despite being switched to defensive for the first time in 19 games, the Rangers regained control of their matchup with the Bruins, earning a 3-2 victory at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.
Zach Jones was inserted into the Rangers lineup for the first time since December 23rd, as Urho Vaakanainen was ruled out due to illness.
Jones was a healthy scratcher in the last 18 straight games and 20 of his last 21 games.
In total, the 24-year-old defender watched 26 games from the Press Box this season.
“I thought he was really good,” coach Peter Laviolet said of Jones. “Apart from moving the puck and skates, it was for me the way he attacked defensively in the defensive zone. The way he closed it had a special attitude to what he was doing there. That's what we were looking for.
“I thought he responded with a really big game. These games can be tougher because you're not speeding up.”
Combined with Braden Schneider, the duo scored the victory with two shots, two blocks and three hits in goal.
The Rangers' complexion in the fourth line changed dramatically following an apocalyptic bottom injury from Adam Edstrom's potential season-ending lower body.
The bruise, consisting of Edstrom, Matt Lempe and Sam Carrick, began to chip offensively when developing chemistry, and was the third game of the season with the Bruins on Wednesday night. This is the trio skated in. Jimmy Vousy's.
Vesey brought the veteran presence to the line with a victory over the Golden Knights on Sunday, but his first game since November 25th was the best at 10:08 before entering 8:18 with Wednesday's victory I recorded the ice time.
“I think Matt played in 8-10 minutes depending on penalty kills, power plays. Depending on the score in the game, if you're down on some goals, then double shift someone or line It could move a bit. bit,” Laviolet said of Lempe after practice in Tarrytown on Tuesday. “I think he did a good job. He was physical. I still want to see a little more offensively with that group pack. Just generate. A simple way of thinking, get it behind you. , flip it, get it on the net, crash the net, and stuff like that.
“He came in, he had pretty good defense and lacked physicality. I want to push that offensive boundary a bit.”
Igor Shesterkin stopped 15 of the 17 shots he saw on Wednesday night, improving to 18-18-2 in the season.
