The New York Rangers line of Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad and Reilly Smith is progressing, but still needs some work before it gets to perfection. Through the first three games this line has certainly had their ups and downs. Untitled video - Made with Clipchamp Kreider and Zibanejad are a duo that’s been intact for years, but they’ve struggled to find a third running mate. That’s why the Rangers went out and acquired Smith to be the third partner in crime for Kreider and Zibanejad and finally solidify the team’s top-six. Through a pretty short sample size, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette has liked some aspects of their play and feels that they are moving along well. “This was only our third game of the year,” Laviolette said. “It’s not like we were in game 12. I thought in Pittsburgh that line played a heck of a game and tonight they were productive. Beautiful play on the power play. You got Mika walking in and seeing Kreider on the back door.” In New York’s second game against the Utah Hockey Club, these three players just didn’t seem to mesh all that well together. However, in the next matchup against the Detroit Red Wings, both Smith and Zibanejad scored for the first time this season while they all played with a confidence that is encouraging. While strides are being made, this line is still yet to fully click which Zibanejad noted on Monday night as he talked about it with a lot of passion. “I think we are close to clicking, but we are working on it,” Zibanejad said. “We want this to work as much as anybody else. It’s frustrating when we don’t connect, but obviously we’ll keep working on it.” This trio is bound to click eventually as it’s only a matter of time. They’ve shown flashes of their potential and now it’s about putting it all together, which will come.
