There are few question marks in the New York Rangers’ lineup, which returns almost entirely from last year’s Presidents’ Trophy-winning squad.
One question, however, is whether Filip Chytil can stay healthy and return to his form from two seasons ago.
But if his performance in New York’s 3-2 win in its season opener against the Boston Bruins on Sunday at TD Garden is any indication of where he stands, Chytil may have some positive answers in store this season.
Chytil was by far the best player on the ice for either team in Boston, scoring a power-play goal in the first period and assisting on Alex Belzile’s game-winning goal in the third period. He also won 56 percent of his faceoffs, had a game-high six shots on goal and was on the ice for 22:34 minutes.
The 25-year-old missed nearly the entire 2023-24 regular season, playing in just 10 games due to a suspected concussion. He returned six months after his Nov. 2 injury in the midst of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But while his return to the lineup was an emotional relief, Chytil went pointless in six postseason games.
Chytil recently said he is “100 percent ready to work” and “not afraid of contact” after a rigorous offseason program.
A healthy Chytil adds scoring depth to a Rangers team that lacked scoring depth throughout the regular season, from the bottom six to the latter stages of the postseason. His teammates on Sunday were Kaapo Kakko and Will Cuylle, and that trio will likely form the Rangers’ third line when the regular season begins.
Cuylle provided one assist and played nearly 20 minutes. Kakko had two shots on goal in over 22 minutes of play.
Related: Rangers make first cuts in training camp and reduce squad to 48
New York Rangers 3 – Boston Bruins 2
Victor Mancini – Courtesy of Hartford Wolf Pack
The Rangers’ lineup on Sunday featured few NHL regulars outside of the Chytil line, especially on defense, where Braden Schneider was the only defenseman to get significant playing time in New York last season.
But Victor Mancini was able to show coach Peter Laviolette and Co. what he was capable of. The 22-year-old defender opened the scoring for the Rangers with a wrist shot that tied the game at 1:1 at 10:23 of the first half.
The 2022 fifth-round pick – who also had an assist on Chytil’s goal and spent 23:06 minutes on the ice – got off to a strong start in training camp, preparing himself well for his first full season of professional hockey with Hartford in the American Hockey League.
Mancini made a solid first impression late last season when he joined Hartford after completing his college career at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and then assumed a regular role on the Wolf Pack’s top-four defense in the Calder Cup playoffs.
Chytil’s power-play goal at 18:47 of the first period sealed the tie, and his pass to Belzile gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead 4:46 into the final period.
Louis Domingue and Dylan Garand shared goal duties for the Rangers. Domingue started and allowed one goal on 15 shots in 30:18 minutes. Garand earned the win by allowing one goal on 13 shots.
Despite not being on the scoresheet, 2021 first-round pick Brennan Othmann was physically remarkable, having two big hits and earning a fighting goal at the end of the second period. The 21-year-old forward had one shot on goal in 13:18 of ice time.
The Rangers will next host the Islanders on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden for their first home game of the preseason.
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