Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider shows he can produce offense, too
New York Rangers left wing Will Cuylle looks on against the Anaheim Ducks in the first period of an NHL hockey game at Madison Square Garden on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
TORONTO — Braden Schneider is not known for his goal-scoring, but the 22-year-old defenseman netted one at an opportune time Tuesday night, breaking a tie midway through the third period and pushing the Rangers to a 5-2 victory over the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.
According to Rangers coach Peter Laviolette, scoring goals is something Schneider can do more often than he has so far in his career.
“I think he’s capable of doing that, I do,’’ said Laviolette. “I mean, the rules are the same for everybody. He can get [up the ice] when he wants to, and that was a perfect example of it. And he does have that skill set . . . I don’t know if it’s a stay-at-home D, but I see him more of as a two-way defenseman.’’
Schneider’s goal was his second of the season and ninth of his career. It was his first goal in 23 games, the other coming Oct. 26.
“When you haven’t got one in a while — and it’s not something I’m always thinking about — but it definitely feels good to get a big goal like that,’’ he said.
His defense partner, Erik Gustafsson, who set him up for the goal, was happy to see Schneider get on the scoresheet.
“He’s been playing very well the whole season, so I’m just happy for him,’’ Gustafsson said. “Such a great kid . . . all the things he does out there, it’s great to see it go in.’’
Blue notes
On Monday, the Rangers assigned Hartford forward Adam Sykora, their second-round pick in the 2022 NHL draft, to his native Slovakia, to participate in the upcoming World Junior Championship. Gabe Perreault, their first-round pick this year, and Drew Fortescue, their third-round pick, were named on Saturday to the U.S. team’s final 25-man roster . . . F Jimmy Vesey, who has been wearing a full face shield since getting hit in the mouth with a puck in practice Thursday, told reporters he needed 25 stitches . . . D Zac Jones was the lone healthy scratch. Jones has played 13 of the Rangers’ 30 games . . . Artemi Panarin had a team-high eight shots on goal . . . K'Andre Miller led all Rangers with 23:36 of ice time.
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.
