There’s a heated conversation inside Gerard Gallant’s office as he and his staff try to figure out how to get the New York Rangers through yet another elimination game.
Should they maintain the status quo to demonstrate to their team that they are not in a panic? Or should you make alterations to give them a much-needed jolt?
Gallant remarked after Saturday’s morning skate at Amalie Arena, “That’s the narrow line.” “Obviously, we’ve discussed a few lineup adjustments and will see where things go from there. But that’s something we’ve done all season, so it’s not a big deal.”
Relax
Forward Tyler Motte described him as “relaxed.” “He has a knack for bringing the group’s attention to a single point. He clearly has high hopes for us. It’s all things we have control over, like our work ethic and mindset, and it gives men the confidence to just play the game. He allows us play our game if we take care of some of the minor details that we can manage.”
For Game 5, Gallant made a slight adjustment, reintroducing Kevin Rooney in place of veteran Ryan Reaves, who was scratched for the first time in the playoffs in an attempt to add speed to the roster. However, it appears like something more substantial is in the works for Game 6, which is a must-win situation.
What Will Happen Tonight?
“It’ll be interesting to watch what happens tonight,” the coach teased. On Saturday morning, Kaapo Kakko was among the last players to exit Amalie Arena. The predicted scratches, including the 21-year-old forward, frequently stay late to get extra practice.
Gallant has strangely curtailed his use of the Kid Line – including Alexis Lafrenière and Filip Chytil – in recent games, limiting him to only 10:33 minutes on the ice Thursday. Kakko has been the least consistent of the three, scoring five points (two goals and three assists) in 19 playoff games and could be a surprise scratch in Game 6.
