Filip Chytil back with Kevin Hayes, Mats Zuccarello on Rangers' second line
The Rangers' Filip Chytil skates during the third period against the Predators at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 4. Credit: Jim McIsaac
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Filip Chytil was back on the left wing with second-line center Kevin Hayes and right wing Mats Zuccarello at practice Friday after coach David Quinn dropped him to the fourth line in the third period of Wednesday’s 4-3 overtime loss to Washington.
“I think he might be pressing a little bit,’’ Quinn said of Chytil, who has no goals and two assists in seven games this season. “But he’s going to stay with those guys [Hayes and Zuccarello] and he’s going to continue to play . . . As long as he continues to put forth an effort, we’re going to let him play, because we think very highly of him, that he’s a big piece of our future.’’
Quinn stressed that he believes Chytil, 19, is good enough to help the team right now and that he just needs a goal to lift the weight off his shoulders and open the floodgates.
Hayes and Zuccarello keep talking to Chytil, trying to keep his confidence up.
“I’ve gone the first 10 games without a goal,’’ said Zuccarello, who has five assists and a shootout goal this season. “I do that almost every year. So I know how that feels.
“If you do the right things, you skate hard, you go to the net, it’s going to bounce in sooner or later. For me, I know it’s going to come. Maybe for him, he’s a young guy — he takes it harder. He needs just to be positive. Just keep doing the things he does, get to the net, shoot the puck, and then it’s going to come.’’
“He’s right there,’’ Hayes said of Chytil. “He’s going to have a turning point, soon. He’s an elite player, and I think he’ll show it soon.’’
Notes & quotes: Defensemen Kevin Shattenkirk and Freddie Claesson did not practice. Both were given “maintenance days,’’ Quinn said, and are expected back Saturday . . . Goaltender Marek Mazanec, called up Thursday when Alexandar Georgiev was sent to Hartford, wore a Go Pro camera on his mask during practice for a commercial MSG is making. It threw his balance off a little, he said. “I didn’t like that at all,’’ he said. “That was just weird. Especially when guys are trying to hit it.’’ . . . According to Quinn, the plan for Georgiev is to play a game or two for Hartford and come back to the Rangers. He won’t be around for Sunday’s game but should be back in time to go with the Rangers on their four-game trip to Chicago and California next week. Hartford was scheduled to play Friday in Belleville, Ontario, and Saturday in Toronto . . . Quinn said injured forwards Matt Beleskey (shoulder separation) and Boo Nieves (concussion) are “both making strides.”
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
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