It was a directive from coach Alain Vigneault and his staff back in early March that has made Brady Skjei such an invaluable part of the Rangers’ postseason picture.
When Skjei was sent down to the minors March 9 a day after playing the fourth game of his NHL career, Vigneault told the coaches at AHL Hartford he wanted the 22-year-old left-handed defenseman to play the right side, where he might be needed down the road. Apparently Skjei adapted well enough that he was in that position at one of the most critical times of the Blueshirts’ season, holding a 4-2 lead in the third period of their eventual victory over the Penguins in Game 2 of their first-round series on Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh.
With the best-of-seven series tied 1-1 going into Game 3 on Tuesday night at the Garden, two spots on the left side are cemented with Marc Staal and Keith Yandle. When captain Ryan McDonagh returns from his right-hand injury — which could happen sooner than later after McDonagh practiced with the team Monday — then there are the three left-siders.
And it also seems like when that happens, Skjei is just going to show that versatility and switch to the right.
“We have some decisions to make,” Vigneault said after Monday’s practice. “We’re going to take the day here to think about it and sort that out.”
Fellow rookie Dylan McIlrath played on the right in Game 2, as former stalwart Dan Girardi went down with his “whole thing” injury. Girardi didn’t practice Monday and Vigneault only said he is “day-to-day.”
Veteran Raphael Diaz was called up from the AHL and practiced with the team Monday, and he is also a right-hander, and one who could help the power play.
“He’s got NHL experience, he’s got playoff experience,” Vigneault said of the 30-year-old Diaz, who played four postseason games with the Rangers in 2014. “He’s good depth for us at this time, and I believe if we need him, he’ll be ready.”
But Skjei’s 19:02 of ice time in Game 2 was impressive. In the most critical of situations, he showed poise — and showed it often on the right side.
“You could see the skating ability, you could see the decisions with the puck,” Vigneault said. “So I believe even in the fast-paced hockey that we’re seeing right now, I think he can handle his own.”
There has been some talk about the Rangers’ set plays off faceoffs, especially as one of them set up Yandle’s game-tying goal in Game 2, the first of three goals in a span of 4:14 in the second period. Yet Vigneault insists that his team doesn’t have more in the playbook than any other team.
“I think all the teams have a number of plays that they go to depending on left-handed center, right-handed center,” Vigneault said. “I wouldn’t say we have more than others. It might look like we do, but we don’t. We have enough, and we try to make those work.”
The Penguins got rookie goalie Matt Murray back at practice, joining presumptive Game 3 starter Jeff Zatkoff and the team’s regular starter, Marc-Andre Fleury, who is still slowly recovering from his second concussion of the season.
Murray was the team’s backup this season, but he seemed to hurt his neck in the final game of the regular season. He said he’s “progressing the way he wants to,” but the 21-year-old wouldn’t put a timetable on his availability.
“It’s a day at a time,” he said.
Coach Mike Sullivan, who has been steadfast in his verbal misdirection concerning his lineup, only added he thought Murray “had a real good practice.”
As for Fleury, Sullivan just said he is “day-to-day,” which is no change from what he has said with Fleury practicing but not dressing for Games 1 and 2. He’s been out since getting concussed on March 31.
The Rangers lineup for Game 3 looks as if it’s going to be the same, with Oscar Lindberg and Marek Hrivik remaining the healthy scratches up front. Rookie goalie Magnus Hellberg remains with the team after he was called up when the status of Henrik Lundqvist (eye) was uncertain before he played in Game 2.