The New York Rangers have announced tonight's lines and while I really hate saying it, but I told you so. Once again Marian comes back and everyone else has to bend over backwards to help him get going. Here are the lines:
Dubinsky-Stepan-Gaborik
Frolov-Anisimov-Drury
Fedotenko-Boyle-Prust
Avery-Christensen-Zuccarello
So, on Thursday night the combination of Dubinsky, Stepan and Zuccarello did some very good things as the team's top line, and some wishfully thought with Zuke coming back they would leave that alone. I guess those people missed the memo that this team has all line movements revolve around Marian Gaborik. For a team that is supposedly built on an identity of hard work and no one bigger than the team you would know it with the way the lines are always catered to get Gaborik going.
All the talk of why you could not bring up Mats Zuccarello unless it was for a top six role is apparently garbage as well considering after playing well in the offensive role he is now sitting down there with Sean Avery and Erik Christensen on the fourth line. If he was going to be in that spot then the guy who should have gotten the call is Dale Weise as he is equipped for that kind of role. Yes, these are the lines to start the game and with one bad shift they will all change, but it is comical how garbage the whole "you get the minutes you earn" mantra from Tortorella has become in how he makes his line choices.
