Rangers forwards could be linemates for United States at 4 Nations Face-off

Though the 4 Nations Faceoff will cause a near-two week break in New York Rangers hockey, four Blueshirts are teammates at the international hockey tournament. And there’s a chance a pair of Rangers forwards could skate on the same line for the United States.

Chris Kreider, Vincent Trocheck, J.T. Miller and Adam Fox will don the stars and stripes, representing the United States in the tournament. Additionally, Mika Zibanejad will suit up for Sweden, and Urho Vaakanainen was added as an injury replacement to Finland’s roster on Feb. 3.

When teams opened practice Monday in Montreal, each showcased potential lineups for when the tournament begins on Wednesday. At Team USA’s practice, Trocheck centered the fourth line with New York Islanders center Brock Nelson shifting to wing. Kreider alternated with Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin on that line’s right wing.

In Trocheck’s three years with the Rangers, he’s played very sparingly on the same line 5v5 with Kreider. However, the two forwards have much experience together on the Rangers top power-play unit. But that could change at the 4 Nations Face-off.

It’d be cool to see Trocheck and Miller skate on the same line in the tournament. The childhood friends have been reunited on Broadway after the Rangers recently acquired Miller in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks. But Miller centered the third line at the U.S. practice Monday with Brady Tkachuk and Matt Boldy.

Auston Matthews, the captain for Team USA, was on a line with Jack Hughes and Jake Guentzel on Monday. Jack Eichel centered Kyle Connor and Matthew Tkachuk.

On the first defensive pairing, Fox was joined in practice by Jaccob Slavin of the Carolina Hurricanes. Team USA’s defensive plans were undoubtedly altered by Quinn Hughes being removed from the roster on Sunday due to an unspecified injury that sidelined him four games.

Ever since the tournament was announced last February, fans clamored to see Fox and Hughes play together. The two are among the best offensive defensemen in the League, and could have presented the United States with a thrilling duo to watch on the power play. Instead, fans will likely have to wait until next year’s Winter Olympics in Italy – when both Fox and Hughes are expected to be selected to compete and, hopefully, remain healthy.

Where and when to watch the Rangers at 4 Nations Face-off

The four Rangers who traded in their sweaters for a darker shade of blue will play their first game Thursday at 8 p.m. on ESPN when the United States plays Finland at Bell Centre. There, they will match up against Vaakanainen, the lone Rangers player on Finland’s roster.

In the second half of Saturday’s doubleheader, the United States has a much-anticipated matchup against Canada in the primetime slot, again at 8 p.m, but this time on ABC. Though the United States open the tournament as the favorite, Canada is not far behind, especially now that Sidney Crosby has been cleared to play and skated at practice Monday on a line with Nathan MacKinnon and Mark Stone.

The United States rounds out its scheduled slate of games against Zibanejad and Sweden on Monday, Feb. 17 on TNT. After that, the games are to be determined based on the preliminary round results.

As for the rest of the Rangers, they have until Feb. 22 off, when they face off against the Buffalo Sabres. The Blueshirts finished strong ahead of the break, winning three of their past four, rallying from a third-period deficit in each victory.

Currently 11th in the Eastern Conference, the Rangers are three points out of the playoffs. The Detroit Red Wings currently occupy the final wild-card spot with 61 points, and the Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets are on their tail with 60 apiece. 

The Rangers – who defeated both Boston and Columbus last week – have 58. They got hot at the right time, winning 11 of 19 (11-5-3) in the New Year, and will need that strong stretch to carry over after the break.