NHL

Rangers tab J.T. Miller for injured Zuccarello’s spot

J.T. Miller, recalled on Tuesday from the AHL Wolf Pack, will take Mats Zuccarello’s spot in the lineup when the Rangers face the Blackhawks in Thursday night’s season reopener at the Garden.

Zuccarello, who leads the Blueshirts with 43 points (15 goals, 28 assists), is expected to be sidelined for approximately two weeks with a non-displaced fracture of the left hand he sustained in the Olympics.

The Norwegian had been playing right wing on the line with center Derick Brassard and left wing Benoit Pouliot beginning Jan. 4 for a 17-game stretch leading into the hiatus during which the Blueshirts went with the same top-three line combinations.

Rather than break up another unit so that grinding winger Derek Dorsett, out since Jan. 3 with a left leg fracture, would make his return against the Blackhawks or change the club’s balance, coach Alain Vigneault is opting to go with the 20-year-old Miller.

“J.T. is a more offensive-type player that we can put in whether it be [Brian Boyle, Dominic Moore, Dan Carcillo or Dorsett],” Vigneault said. “The [Boyle-Moore-Carcillo] line has a pretty good identity, and I felt it was better not to juggle them and better to have an offensive player in there.”

Zuccarello recorded eight points (2 goals, 6 assists) in his last six consecutive matches prior to the Olympics and 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) in the final 15 games. Pouliot scored two goals in the club’s last match and three in the five immediately prior to the hiatus while Brassard recorded three goals in the final four games.

Moving Miller into Zuccarello’s spot allows the line to retain more of a semblance of continuity than would moving Dorsett or, say, Boyle onto the unit.

“I know [Dorsett] was a little disappointed when I told him he wasn’t going to start [Thursday], but he has been away for almost seven weeks now and I just felt he needs another full team practice,” Vigneault said. “Considering the opponent, I thought it was smarter to wait.”

Miller had been playing the middle between Pouliot and Carl Hagelin on the Rangers’ third line in late December while Ryan Callahan was sidelined with a knee injury. When Callahan returned in early January, Miller was dispatched to Hartford, for whom he continued to play center, though between Jesper Fast and Ryan Bourque.

“It shouldn’t be any problem going back to the wing,” Miller said following Wednesday’s practice. “It’s my responsibility to play a physical game and be consistent.

“I’m going to be playing with two skilled players in Benny and Brass, so it will be my job to have that net-front presence for them and try to make it a little easier. I’m thankful to be here.”


Marc Staal skated through his second straight practice after missing three with issues arising from back spasms. The alternate captain said he expects to play against the Blackhawks barring an unexpected reversal. Blueshirts’ seventh defenseman Justin Falk has not played since Dec. 29.

Henrik Lundqvist will start Saturday afternoon’s match in Philadelphia against the Flyers after backing up Cam Talbot for the Chicago game.

“This gives me a couple of days to work hard in practice, get my angles back and make the necessary adjustments to this rink; you can definitely feel the difference,” said Lundqvist. “When the break came, we were working hard and paying attention to detail.

“We need to get right back to that. Let’s not try to overthink it.”