Rangers defeat Sabres on Miller OT GWG, Strome injured, @Pitt tonight

The Rangers averted what would have been a disappointing - not necessarily disastrous loss - defeating Buffalo 5-4 in overtime for the second time this dressing. K’Andre Miller, whose game continues to grow before our eyes, created a turnover at the defensive blueliners, then joined the rush to pot the game-winner. Ryan Strome left the game in the first with a lower-body injury, creating a mish-mash of combinations the remainder of the contest. New York is in Pittsburgh to face the Penguins, who notched 11 goals Sunday, for the second time in five days.

I said before the game that Buffalo would be a tough opponent. They have played better in March and refused to bend in the game. We saw that again yesterday, as the rallied to defeat Chicago on the tail end of a back-to-back. If the Sabres can get some goaltending and Owen Power becomes as good as most believe he will be, this should be a team on the rise in the future.

Alexis Lafreniere notched his 15th even strength goal on the season, which is second on the Rangers behind Chris Kreider. The end result came after a pretty passing play from Jonny Brodzinski, moved up with Strome out, to Filip Chytil, who made the backhand dish to Laf for the forehand-backhand dunk of a tally. I wrote about the Laf the other day and Sunday was a continuation of the progression we have seen lately. He extended his point streak to six games with the goal.

With Strome out, Andrew Copp moved from wing to center with Barclay Goodrow sliding up to the second line. Coach Gerard Gallant didn’t seem all that enamored of Copp’s performance in the middle, moving back to wing during the game. Copp has described himself as a center who can play wing, but the first impression he made in that role is a wing who can fill in at center. If Strome does not play, I wonder if Goodrow moves up to center that line or if Gallant goes with Copp. I would leave Chytil on the third line.

If Strome is out, Gallant has a plethora of options. Greg McKegg, Ryan Reaves or Julien Gauthier, each of whom has been a healthy scratch since the reinforcements arrived, are available. Of the three, I think Gauthier could be the most interesting option, as he could slot back onto the third line if Goodrow moves up. But I expect Brodzinski to skate on that trip and either McKegg or Reaves to dress on the fourth line. McKegg makes the most sense as he can slot in as the fourth line center, resulting in as little shifting as possible.

The blueline likely remains the same, at least the first two pairs. Jacob Trouba was very good again, making an amazing play that likely got lost in the win. With Buffalo about to potentially break in 2 on 0, he was able to deflect a breakout pass out of mid-air with one hand on his stick and create a rush the other way. Miller, as noted above, scored the game-winner but that was just the capper on another solid contest. The upside potential on him may have just had the surface scratched.

For the love of all that is holy, scratch the Spotlight Cam. First, Adam Fox did not have the greatest of games while highlighted. Second, the camera angles were brutal, making it almost impossible to follow the action. Ryan Lindgren was okay, not phenomenal, continuing some average play at best from that duo recently. Despite the pair’s so-so performances, I don’t expect a change.

Patrik Nemeth and Braden Schneider skated together again, making Justin Braun a healthy scratch for the second straight game. Gallant is usually reluctant to make changes off a win and that duo were together for the victory over Pittsburgh. But I do expect at some point, we see Braun shift from the right side to the left to see how well those two can play together. Garnering that knowledge will be a key before the postseason starts and also to allow for switches in case of injury.

In a small deal Monday, New York dealt Tarmo Reunanen to the Carolina for Maxim Letunov. The deal was the second of d-man for forward recently between the two squads, with the first Joey Keane for Gauthier. Reunanen was blocked on the blue line and his contract expires at the end of the year, making him a trade candidate. Letunov adds forward depth at Hartford but he is a career AHL player. I would have preferred a better return, even with giving Reunanen a chance to play elsewhere since he was blocked in New York.

In other news, per Mollie Walker, the UMass Bobby Trivigno sweepstakes is in full swing. She noted that the final teams in the mix are the Rangers, Islanders, Panthers and Predators. Last week, she highlighted the connection between the Blueshirts and Trivigno, so losing him, especially to the Islanders, would be somewhat painful.

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