Jack Roslovic will very likely audition to be in the Rangers lineup.
Yes, head coach Peter Laviolette has continually rotated the lineup as a fully healthy Rangers prepare for the playoffs, but on Sunday night the team defeated the Canadiens 5-2. It’s hard not to see his decision to give Roslovic a healthy scratch when he did. As a bench.
Roslovic was on the ice for just 8 minutes, 07 seconds in the team’s 4-3 win over the Red Wings in the previous game, which the Rangers acquired from the Blue Jackets for a conditional fourth-round pick. This was his lowest playing time since he was acquired. Deadline.
It was also the least playing time he received all season for either team.
Roslovic played 14 shifts against the Red Wings, the fewest shifts he played for the Rangers.
Consider this a wake-up call for Roslovic, even if Laviolette never said that was his intended message.
“It definitely gives me a little bit more motivation,” Roslovic said after practice Monday. “just [gotta] Play the way I can. That’s good accountability. You can’t bring slack. … You always want to be with your team. Just get better and learn from it. ”
Roslovic has primarily skated on the front line since his arrival, with a number of different players standing in that spot along with longtime accomplices Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider.
Roslovic, who featured Kaapo Kakko, Blake Wheeler, Johnny Brodzinski, Will Quill and Jimmy Vesey throughout the year, seemed to have cemented his place with a win, but he and his line have struggled recently. This caused Laviolette to reconsider his options once again.
Roslovic has scored just three points in his last eight games.
Vesey skated alongside Zibanejad and Kreider in place of Roslovic on Sunday night, and the line swelled in one of its best games of the season.
Zibanejad scored at even strength, his first since March 21 and his fourth at 5-on-5 in 18 games since early March.
Vesey had the only assist on Zibanejad’s even goal.
“[Laviolette] He’s running the team, so he’s going to get the team there,” Roslovic said. “We talked a lot and [just] Try again. ”
Roslovic returned to the front line during Monday’s practice, a strong sign that he will likely be back in the lineup Tuesday against the Islanders.
Perhaps a break from games and a chance to watch his teammates from the press box will allow Roslovic to regroup and get back to his best form.
“Just the flow of the game,” Roslovic said when asked what he learned while watching instead of playing. “Just trying to read it. Understand the team a little better.”
Laviolette maintained the same sentiment he has echoed throughout the past few weeks.
“I can only dress 18 skaters,” Laviolette said. “You have to take guys out of the lineup. I thought the guys I put in the starting lineup had a pretty good game. [Sunday] night.Lineup may vary [on Tuesday]. Even if that’s the case, it’s not because someone did anything. We just have to get through this. ”
If he can return to the lineup, it would be an important opportunity for Roslovic to make the case that he deserves to keep his spot, especially once the playoffs begin.
Tuesday will be a big test against local rivals. This team is on a four-game winning streak and is desperately trying to make it to the playoffs.
“It’s a really important game,” Roslovic said. “This is a team that is aiming for two points and is trying to fight for a spot in the playoffs. I think this will be a great test for us as well, in a way a warm-up for the playoffs. It’s an important game for us, so we want to play sharply.”
That test is probably more important to Roslovic than anyone else on the roster at this point.
Will he pass?
