Backup will be back in lineup in Montreal
It will be Hot Hand Ondrej Pavelec in nets Saturday night in Montreal when the Blueshirts attempt to string together back-toback victories for the first time this season in the wake of their 5-2 triumph over the Coyotes on Thursday.
“Just feel it’s the right thing for the team,” coach Alain Vigneault said following practice Friday. “He stopped the puck. Goaltenders have to stop the puck. He did a good job.”
Pavelec, 1-1/2.56/.896 in two starts (out of three games played), was steady if not spectacular in making 27 saves against Arizona. That’s just the type of performance the wobbly 3-6-2 Rangers will be looking for in their match against the equally desperate 2-7-1 Canadiens.
“They throw a lot of pucks at the net. They drive to the net,” Pavelec said. “There’s always a lot of bodies in front of you, so it’s going to be a challenge to find the puck and make those saves.”
Pavelec — signed to a one-year, $1.3 million freeagent deal after Antti Raanta, the incumbent the previous two seasons, was dealt to Arizona with Derek Stepan — is trying to reestablish his NHL bona fides following a 2016-17 that went wrong for him in Winnipeg.
“Obviously, last year was not what I was looking for,” said the 31-year-old who played only eight games with the Jets and spent a large portion of the season with AHL Manitoba.
The Rangers allowed one goal while shorthanded three times against Arizona and entered Friday 25th overall on the penalty kill at 9-for-39 for 76.9 percentage. The PK has been a problem area for three seasons, with the Blueshirts 19th last year (79.8) and 26th (78.2) the year before that.
“The difference to me between a successful kill and an unsuccessful one goes back to confidence,” said Michael Grabner, on for two power-play goals against in 24:30 of shorthanded time. Ryan McDonagh has been on for just one PPGA in 31:49 while his PK partner Marc Staal has been on for two against in 31:52. Brendan Smith has been on for six against in 20:33 while Brady Skjei has been on for four in 16:45. Nick Holden has been on for two against in 13:04 and Kevin Shattenkirk one in 1:19.