CHICAGO — After a trade seemingly made out of necessity, Rangers coach Alain Vigneault got his first look at new charge Dan Carcillo in Wednesday night’s 3-2 win over the Blackhawks at the United Center.
Carcillo was obtained in a trade with the Kings on Saturday in exchange for a seventh-round pick, a day after forward Derek Dorsett broke his leg. Carcillo was made a healthy scratch for Monday’s 4-3 home shootout loss to the Blue Jackets, yet the hard-nosed winger made his Blueshirts debut against the defending Stanley Cup champions, one of his four former teams.
“I didn’t play him much, [but] for his first game with us, he did what he was supposed to do,” said Vigneault, who gave Carcillo 7:15 of ice time, just one shift in the third period. “He brought energy. He finished checks when he had the opportunity. That’s exactly what we need from him.”
Carcillo’s biggest contribution came when he pushed Brandon Bollig eight minutes into the first period. When Bollig retaliated, he was called for roughing. On the ensuing power play, Mats Zuccarello scored a goal that gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead.
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Carcillo’s insertion into the lineup meant it was J.T. Miller becoming a healthy scratch just two days after he found himself playing crucial top-six minutes in the third period of Monday one-point loss.
“Not that J.T. has played bad,” Vigneault said. “To the contrary, we’re very happy with the way he’s played.”
The coach also had some choice words about the future for the 20-year-old Miller, who has been sent down on three separate occasions this season.
“I think the more I see that young player, I see that potential,” Vigneault said. “If he keeps improving and he keeps working at his game, there’s a chance someday he’ll become a real effective player.”
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Defenseman Justin Falk remained a healthy scratch for the fifth straight game, while Michael Del Zotto stayed in the lineup, playing his third straight.
Del Zotto’s agents met with general manager Glen Sather while the team played in Toronto on Saturday, with the 23-year-old still being dangled as trade bait. He played another assertive game, finishing with 14:36 of ice time and notching an assist on Zuccarello’s goal.
Also assisting on that goal was Henrik Lundqvist, getting his second point of the season and the 14th of this career.