Zucc’s return leads to shifting of Blueshirt lines

Mats Zuccarello’s return to the fray brought a new wrinkle to the Rangers’ line combinations as the team prepared for Thursday night’s match at the Islanders.

No. 36 resumed his role as Mika Zibanejad’s right wing, but notably was joined on the other flank by Filip Chytil, while Vlad Namestnikov worked on the right side with Chris Kreider and Kevin Hayes. The Jimmy Vesey-Brett Howden-Jesper Fast unit remained intact as Lias Andersson, who had played the past three games on the wing, centered Cody McLeod and Vinni Lettieri on the fourth line.

“It was a situation where it had been bothering me for a little before it got to the point that I needed to rest it,” Zuccarello said of the groin injury that kept him out of the past three games. “It feels good. I’m prepared to play.”

Chytil had played five games on Hayes’ left side in late October before coach David Quinn shifted him back into the middle on the fourth line. The coach cited the difficulty the 19-year-old was having in dealing with top-six matchups. Now, the Czech is set to join the top unit after notching his first goal of the season in Monday’s 2-1 victory over the Canucks.

“With his play, I think he’s earned this opportunity and I’m anxious to see him build on what’s been happening these last few games,” Quinn said. “It’s the ebbs and flows of a 19-year-old in the National Hockey League, the confidence kind of comes and goes, but I think he’s been building towards this the last three games.”

Chytil ended his drought with a power-play goal midway through the second period.

“He looks a little more confident, a little more of a smile on his face,” Quinn said. “He’s a dynamic player for sure, and he had an awful lot of jump in his game the other night. He’s been building towards that.”

Ryan Spooner, benched for the final 10:09 Monday while Chytil took his spot on the line with Zibanejad and Namestnikov, will be the healthy scratch up-front for the second time this season. Spooner, who first sat out Oct. 21 against Calgary, has two points (1-1) while averaging 12:40 of ice time, including 1:43 per on the power play.

Defense tandems remained in- tact, meaning Brendan Smith will sit for the third straight game while Freddy Claesson skates with Kevin Shattenkirk.

Alex Georgiev was dispatched to the AHL Wolf Pack to play in Wednesday’s early-afternoon matchup in Hartford against Bridgeport. The netminder will return to back up Henrik Lundqvist on Thursday after recording 26 saves in a 4-3 overtime victory against the Sound Tigers.

Michael Lindqvist was released from his contract after clearing waivers.