It seems like Rangers coach John Tortorella is thinking about reinstalling rookie Chris Kreider on one of his top two lines.
At yesterday’s practice, Tortorella had Kreider back with Derek Stepan and Ryan Callahan on what could be called the second scoring line. For the past two games, Kreider was with John Mitchell and Mike Rupp on a rarely used fourth line.
“I think it’s just the two of them,” Kreider said, referring to the chemistry the three had when they played together. “They can be used in all situations. They’re unbelievable all-around players.”
With Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Capitals set for tonight at the Garden, the Rangers desperately need to find some even-strength chemistry. They have scored one pure 5-on-5 goal in the past 144:52, going back to the second period of Game 4, when the Kreider-Stepan-Callahan unit was still together.
“We had a little bit of chemistry early on, from the first time we were together in Game 6 against Ottawa,” Stepan said. “Both those guys move their legs and are really fast skaters, so we want to create space if we can through the neutral zone and create loose pucks in the offensive zone where we can bury our opportunities.”
Added Kreider, “Obviously good players like them like to have the puck on their stick. Hopefully I can try to win pucks and force turnovers so they can keep playing.”
The top Carl Hagelin-Brad Richards-Marian Gaborik line stayed intact, while the third line became Artem Anisimov-Brian Boyle-Brandon Prust, and the fourth line had Ruslan Fedotenko joining Mitchell and Rupp.
* Mats Zuccarello (fractured left wrist) took part in another full practice, this time wearing a no-contact orange jersey. Afterward, he said there’s no update, but he “feels better” and his injured wrist is “getting stronger.”
He also noted that it has been 6 1/2 weeks since he fractured the wrist blocking a shot from the Sabres’ Jordan Leopold, and that he will need at least 7 1/2 to 8 weeks at minimum to become available.
There was no update on Brandon Dubinksy (right foot), and the center did not practice.
* The Rangers penalty kill has been subpar this series, giving up four power-play goals in 19 chances.
“We want to be stronger,” Ryan McDonagh said. “We know how effective the [Capitals’] power play can be when it’s on its game. In the end, it’s really about us being aggressive and not letting them get set up.”