Jimmy Vesey, Zac Jones are Rangers' scratches for opener in Buffalo
Jimmy Vesey of the Rangers skates during the first period against the Penguins at Madison Square Garden on March 16. Credit: Jim McIsaac
BUFFALO — When rookie Will Cuylle forced his way onto the Rangers’ roster with a great preseason performance, it meant that someone who had been expected to play was going to get bumped out of the lineup.
On opening night against the Buffalo Sabres, that someone was Jimmy Vesey, the two-time Ranger who won a roster spot a year ago after coming to training camp on a tryout basis, and played well enough to earn himself a two-year contract extension. Vesey, 30, was a healthy scratch for the season opener, along with defenseman Zac Jones.
“These are really tough decisions,’’ coach Peter Laviolette said of the call to scratch Vesey, who played 81 games last season and had 11 goals and 25 points. “Sometimes it comes down to a person playing the natural position and Nick [Bonino], when he signed here, was that natural centerman, defensive[minded], penalty killer, face off, a guy that’s had success.
“I’m sure we’ll have to make a bunch of decisions this year, but that one was not easy, because I think that Jimmy Vesey had a good camp,’’ he continued. “I thought it got better as it went on, and he was effective inside the games . . . And so I talked to him this morning, and this isn’t a, ‘You didn’t play well enough, or you’re not’ . . . It’s, ‘I can only dress 12 forwards tonight.’’’
Blue notes
Igor Shesterkin got the start in goal, his second straight opening night assignment and third in four seasons . . . Laviolette had praise for his penalty killing unit, which didn’t allow a goal, and produced a shorthanded goal by Chris Kreider. “They did a really good job,’’ he said. “It’s courageous to stand there and get teed off on, and [Nick] Bonino had four [total, in the game] . . . and [Jacob] Trouba had (eight), (Ryan) Lindgren had some. [Tyler] Pitlick. The penalty killers really, really worked to do their job tonight. and it was noticeable by everybody.’’ . . . Alexis Lafreniere got the first Rangers goal of the season, tapping in a feed from Artemi Panarin in front of the net early in the first period for a 1-0 lead . . . After the game the Rangers were scheduled to fly to Columbus, where they will practice Friday play the Blue Jackets Saturday.
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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