Hartnett: If Top Line Does Its Job, Rangers Can Survive Rash Of Injuries

By Sean Hartnett
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On Thursday night, the Rangers entered a rowdy building in St. Louis and emerged as the victors thanks to a bit of magic from their top line.

Stand-in center Martin St. Louis pulled off a ridiculous, no-look pass to Rick Nash, who notched the game-winning goal with 1:50 remaining. Nash completed a three-point night, having scored the game's opening goal and assisting on linemate Chris Kreider's breakaway goal at 6:30 of the third period.

Kreider is a sight to see on a breakaway. No one in this league can catch him. The 23-year-old winger played like a man possessed throughout the entirety of the Rangers' season-opening 3-2 win over the Blues.

On Nash's first goal, Kreider made an all-out hustle play to steal the puck from Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and alertly pushed the puck to Nash. Kreider also delivered a big hit on Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo moments before Nash's game-winner.

The Blues outplayed the Rangers and owned the puck for the final two periods, yet the highly determined Rangers were able to steal a win from a St. Louis team renowned for its incredible home-ice advantage.

BOYLE INJURY COULD EXPOSE RANGERS' THIN DEFENSE DEPTH

Following the victory, head coach Alain Vigneault delivered news Rangers fans had feared, informing reporters that key defenseman Dan Boyle will miss four-to-six weeks due to a broken right hand. Boyle suffered the injury blocking a Jori Lehtera shot early in the third period.

The 38-year-old defenseman was the Rangers' most important offseason addition, given his prowess as a power play quarterback.

As mentioned in Thursday's season preview, the Rangers are thin when it comes to quality blue line depth. Matt Hunwick made the cut ahead of opening night as the Rangers' seventh defenseman. Vigneault has pointed to Hunwick's puck-carrying abilities and athleticism as reasons why he made the Rangers' roster.

RANGERS CALL UP KOSTKA

On Friday morning, the Rangers recalled 28-year-old defenseman Mike Kostka from Hartford. Kostka registered one assist in four preseason games. He and Dylan McIlrath were two of the Rangers' final roster cuts, as they were sent to Hartford on Oct. 6.

Kostka was mistake-prone during an unimpressive preseason. McIlrath fared far better than Kostka in preseason exhibitions, but the 6-foot-5, 230-pound defenseman doesn't have the skating legs required to keep up in Vigneault's uptempo system.

The Rangers might have been better served by recalling Conor Allen, who looked the part during a brief three-game call-up last season. There's nothing flashy or exciting about Allen's game, but the all-around defenseman seems to handle every aspect well. Allen is a mobile skater, who plays with both a physical edge and intelligence.

Already without long-term injured reserve center Derek Stepan for at least the next nine games, the Blueshirts' resiliency will now be further tested with Boyle out until at least early November. Given their lack of obvious in-house solutions, it's puzzling why offensive defenseman Raphael Diaz wasn't brought back on the cheap. Diaz agreed a one-year deal with the Calgary Flames on Oct. 6, reportedly worth $700,000.

Winger Lee Stempniak will have to deliver the goods as the Rangers' most skilled power play quarterback during Boyle's absence.

FACE-OFF TROUBLES

St. Louis and 21-year-old center J.T. Miller struggled at the face-off dot during Thursday's opener. Miller did not win a draw all night, finishing 0 for 8. St. Louis went 4 for 11 (36 percent).

Dominic Moore won 75 percent of his draws (12 for 16). Crucially, Moore won 7 of 9 (78 percent) in the defensive zone and helped the Rangers kill all five Blues' power plays.

Derick Brassard went 8-of-16 on draws.

CAN'T BASH THE NASH

Nash has been under an intense microscope since arriving in New York prior to the 2012-13 lockout shortened season. Whether you loathe him or love him, he remains a very important member of the Rangers.

The 30-year-old winger came into training camp in tremendous shape, shedding pounds and sporting a trim physique. Vigneault described Nash's performances during training camp as a "night and day" difference.

"Rick's come in here, every practice he has been focused, paying attention," Vigneault said. "He's paying attention to the details on the ice, working extremely hard. This camp, compared to the one he had last year — I've had him twice — night and day."

Right now, Nash looks like an entirely different person compared to last season's playoff misery. He's playing like a bat out of hell. Nash is getting into the right areas and making smart, confident plays.

The play of Nash, St. Louis and Kreider on the Rangers' top line should be encouraging for Rangers fans. If the line keeps clicking, the Rangers' issues won't be glaring and they'll survive this injury curse.

Follow Sean on Twitter at @HartnettHockey

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