The New York Rangers deployed different defensive pairs at practice ahead of Friday's contest against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The New York Rangers tried different defensive pairings today at practice to get a feel for what it could be like to shuffle up their back end.
In their zone, the Rangers have struggled recently, and over the year have allowed three or more goals thirteen times this season.
Despite the comfort and strength of the Lindgren-Fox and Miller-Trouba pairings, the coaching staff wanted to give extended looks to a new lineup in a high-tempo setting.
The Rangers got a hefty skate in today, working on breakouts, and using the full sheet of ice for a majority of their drills. If they were not, it involved battle drills.
New pairings to learn timing and unique tendencies
Any exposure to a new face is good exposure. It is even better for the team to get a feel for it in a high-intensity drill session.
"We had moved them back in the Anaheim game and they looked good," Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette said.
"They had been previously over the year, They were practicing again to look at it again."
With Adam Fox healthy following his LTIR stint from Nov.2 to Nov.29, the pairing has never changed for a full sixty minutes of hockey.
Even if that remains the case, it benefits the club to try different pairings to use in different situations.
"I think it's a little bit of a different makeup for [Lindgren and Schneider]. It has the potential to be more D-zone starts against top opponents and to play heavier minutes," said Laviolette.
"Fox and Gustafsson lends itself to the offensive zone a little bit more. But, as I said, the numbers of those pairs have been pretty good when they're together."
Whether or not the Rangers roll with these pairings for the duration of a full game remains to be seen.
Even if the mix-up is to assess new pairings for mid-game adjustments, it is a step in a positive direction during this tough January spell (4-6-2).