There are few question marks in a New York Rangers lineup that’s returning nearly all its personnel from last season’s Presidents’ Trophy-winning squad.
One question, though, is whether Filip Chytil can remain healthy and recapture his form of two seasons ago.
But if his performance in New York’s 3-2 victory in its preseason opener against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Sunday is any indication of where he’s at, Chytil just may have some positive answers in store this season.
Chytil was head and shoulders the best player on the ice for either side in Boston. He scored on the power play in the first period and assisted on Alex Belzile’s game-winning goal in the third period. He also won 56 percent of his face-offs, had a game-high six shots on goal and logged 22:34 in ice time.
The 25-year-old missed nearly the entire regular season in 2023-24; he was limited to 10 games with a suspected concussion. He did return six months after his Nov. 2 injury, midway through the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But while his re-entry in the lineup was an emotional lift, Chytil was held pointless in six postseason contests.
Chytil said the other day he’s “100 percent ready to work” and is “not scared of any contact” after a rigorous offseason program.
A healthy Chytil adds scoring depth to a Rangers team that lacked it throughout the regular season from its bottom six and in the latter stages of the postseason. On Sunday, his linemates were Kaapo Kakko and Will Cuylle, and that threesome likely will make up the Rangers third line when the regular season begins.
Cuylle picked up an assist, playing nearly 20 minutes. Kakko had two shots on goal, playing more than 22 minutes.
New York Rangers 3 – Boston Bruins
The Rangers’ lineup Sunday had few NHL regulars outside of the Chytil line. That was especially so on defense, where Braden Schneider was the only blueliner who saw significant time in New York last season.
But that allowed Victor Mancini to show coach Peter Laviolette and company what he brings to the table. The 22-year-old defenseman opened the scoring for the Rangers with a wrist shot that tied the game 1-1 at 10:23 of the first period.
The 2022 fifth-round pick — who also picked up an assist on Chytil’s goal and logged 23:06 in ice time — has had a strong start to camp, setting himself up nicely for his first full season of pro hockey with Hartford in the American Hockey League.
Mancini already made a solid first impression late last season when he joined Hartford after finishing his collegiate career at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and then took a regular role in the Wolf Pack’s top four on defense in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Chytil’s power-play goal at 18:47 of the first period broke the tie, and his feed to Belzile gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead 4:46 into the final frame.
Louis Domingue and Dylan Garand split the duties in goal for the Rangers. Domingue started and allowed one goal on 15 shots in 30:18. Garand picked up the win, allowing one goal on 13 shots.
Though held off the score sheet, 2021 first-round pick Brennan Othmann was noticeable on the physical side of things. He had two big hits and picked up a fighting major at the end of the second period. The 21-year-old forward had one shot on goal in 13:18 of ice time.
Next up, the Rangers host the Islanders at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night in the first home game of the preseason.
