Kris Knoblauch not leaving Rangers bench yet



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Kris Knoblauch, behind the bench on Saturday night in DC for his third game as interim head coach while David Quinn remains on COVID protocol, will maintain his status for at least two more games on Monday and Thursday, according to the positive NHL test protocol. .

Quinn entered the COVID-19 shortlist last Wednesday. Although the Rangers have not confirmed the 54-year-old has tested positive, it is safe to draw that conclusion as he goes into self-quarantine. As such, section 4.1 or section 4.2 would apply.

Section 4.1 relating to asymptomatic persons indicates that the quarantine may end: “After 10 days from the first positive test, provided that the individual has remained asymptomatic throughout the period of his self-isolation; and fulfillment of additional criteria in 4.3 [that mandates the team physician and infectious disease expert must conclude the individual, ‘no longer presents a risk of infection to others.’”

Section 4.2 pertaining to persons with symptoms at the time of testing or thereafter states that quarantine may end, “If at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared and at least 24 hours since last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications; [plus satisfaction of the aforementioned Section 4.3 Criteria.]”

This next Friday marks 10 days after Quinn’s presumed positive test. The Rangers have the Sabers at home on Monday and are in Philadelphia on Thursday, so those games would be led by Knoblauch. The Blueshirts are then back in Philadelphia on Saturday for an afternoon game before returning to Washington next Sunday for another morning.

If Quinn is asymptomatic, it’s unclear whether he would be allowed to travel to Philadelphia on Friday, where he would then check in at a hotel before joining the team the next morning. Otherwise, this game would also belong to Knoblauch.

Kris Knoblauch behind the Rangers bench this week.
Kris Knoblauch behind the Rangers bench this week.
AP

Barring unforeseen complications that are always possible this season, Quinn would be sure to regain command for next Sunday’s game against the Caps. So in total he would end up missing a total of six or seven games.

Rangers split Knoblauch’s first two games, winning that infamous 9-0 game at the Garden on Wednesday against the Flyers before losing atrociously 2-1 to the Caps in DC on Friday, when Alex Ovechkin scored on two losses 3: 09 except at the end of the third period.

Both goals were scored with Rangers’ fourth row Brendan Lemieux-Steve Rooney-Brett Howden on the ice against Ovechkin and the Caps first unit. Granted, the Blueshirts’ Ryan Lindgren-Adam Fox tandem in defense was also on the line, but having the fourth row against Ovechkin at the end of the third period is not ideal, even for a quarter with the game on the line. , and even less twice. .

Lemieux, Rooney and Howden were like a line for the first after a failed Rangers power play on which the team used their seven most productive forwards. Apart from the fourth row, Kaapo Kakko and Colin Blackwell rested after the PP.

After the equalizer, Knoblauch deployed the Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Pavel Buchnevich and Artemi Panarin-Ryan Strome-Blackwell lines before coming back to the fourth row and another unfortunate game against Ovechkin.

But if staff deployment matters, so do goalkeepers, and Alexandar Georgiev was out of position on Ovechkin’s two goals. First, he stretched out on a left side shot so he couldn’t recover when the puck hit a man in front and bounced into the lunge, where the Great Eight was able to pounce on it at 13:18 for the equalizing goal.

Then Georgiev used his left pad to kick John Carlson’s left circle straight into the lunge where Ovechkin could gobble up the backhand rebound that brought the score to 2-1 at 4:27 pm. It’s true that Lindgren could have tied the winger’s stick or Howden could have provided better coverage, but the goalie can’t hit pucks in danger zones that way.

Georgiev, whose rebound control was excellent last season, struggled pretty much from the start this year. Indeed, after ruling out the Islanders in his debut on Jan. 16, the first goal scored against Georgiev was on a Travis Zajac right wing workout created by Georgiev giving Miles Wood’s initial kick into the circle during ‘a loss to New Jersey three nights later.

The problems persisted for Georgiev, who recorded a backup PCT. under .890 in seven of his 13 starts. As Igor Shesterkin continues to rehabilitate the groin strain he suffered in New Jersey on March 4, Keith Kinkaid was scheduled to start Saturday for Knoblauch.

The problems persisted for Georgiev, who registered a backup PCT. under .890 in seven of his 13 starts. As Igor Shesterkin continues to rehabilitate the groin strain he suffered in New Jersey on March 4, Keith Kinkaid was scheduled to start Saturday for Knoblauch.

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