DENVER — The third line goeth forth.
For everything that it seems the Rangers can’t do, that thing they do best is find ways to win, for even as they’re struggling to reestablish their collective “A” game, the Blueshirts have gone 2-1-1 since Henrik Lundqvist went down, 4-1-1 in their last six and 7-3-1 in their last 11 entering Thursday’s match against the Avalanche.
A large part of this success is owed to the burgeoning partnership between left wing Carl Hagelin and center Kevin Hayes on a third line that had been an area of concern through much of the season’s first three months.
“He and I have played a lot better together and off each other in the neutral zone and in the offensive zone,” said Hagelin, a force down low on the forecheck and in open ice as well. “I definitely feel that I’m getting the puck with speed down the wing a lot more than I was when we started playing together.
“We’re spending a lot more time in the offensive zone.”
The H&H Boys have played with a revolving cast of right wingers throughout the year, from Anthony Duclair to Jesper Fast to Lee Stempniak. But it has been J.T. Miller riding shotgun on the starboard side since Fast went down with a knee injury in Nashville on Saturday.
“I think Hags has been playing to his strengths more, chipping the puck and winning battles,” coach Alain Vigneault said following Wednesday’s practice in Toronto. “One-on-one, it’s tough to get the puck from him.
“With J.T., they’re spending quality time in the other end. They’re pushing for more ice time.”
And they’re pushing the pace. That starts with Hayes moving the puck quickly and then getting into position to get it back.
“We do a lot of talking, but it comes down to trial and error in practices and during games,” Hayes said. “Hags is such a fast guy going down the wing, he’s always going, he’s always on the puck in the offensive zone, his speed is such a great asset that I need to take advantage of.
“At the beginning of the year I was probably holding onto the puck too long, but now I’m looking to make the quick pass and come from behind to get it back. That gives me time to create space for myself.”
Hagelin, in his fourth year, is not easy to typecast as an offensive player. He is an outstanding penalty killer, and can create havoc with speed that is impossible to teach on the forecheck, but he’s not yet the finisher he was before he came to the NHL.
Still, his 11 goals are fifth on the club behind Rick Nash’s 33, Marty St. Louis’ 14, Derick Brassard’s 13 and Chris Kreider’s 12.
“I take pride in my defensive play and in the fact that the coaches have trust in me to be on the ice late in games with a one-goal lead, but I haven’t buried my chances the way I need to if I want to be more of an offensive player,” Hagelin said. “I create a lot of chances but I’m not putting up the numbers I did before.
“Of course I would like to score more goals, but it’s difficult without being on the power play,” added No. 62, who has gotten a total of 5:30 on the man advantage. “I’ve been creating chances five-on-five, and that’s not so easy.“I know our line has been spending a lot of time in their end, and that’s important for the team.
Whatever I can do to help the team, five-on-five, on the PK, defending late. That’s what I want to do.”
Hayes called Hagelin “a north-south player who likes to go north.
“I’ve been really lucky to have him on my wing; he’s an easy player to play with,” Hayes said. “He takes the puck in full stride and goes. It’s on me to make sure he gets it at the right time.”
This is the right time for Hagelin, who has traditionally been at his best over a season’s second-half.
“Usually every year after Christmas,” Hagelin said. “The work I do over the summer, where some guys get tired the second half, I get energized.
“I guess I like the big games.”
Cam Talbot will get his fifth straight start Thursday. “Cam buckled down and made the saves he needed to [Tuesday],” Vigneault said in reference to Tuesday’s pockmarked 5-4 victory over the Maple Leafs.
Mats Zuccarello and Ryan McDonagh moved up to the first power-play unit, switching places with St. Louis and Dan Boyle. Vigneault said the move was prompted by Zuccarello’s play over the last week.
“Mats has found his game,” Vigneault said. “He’s playing extremely well, so I wanted to get him onto the top unit and keep his five-on-five [with Rick Nash and Derick Brassard] together.”