One of the key players in the Rangers-Devils playoff series figures to be Filip Chytil, who centers the Rangers’ “Kid Line,’’ scoring 22 goals and dishing out 23 assists this season.
“He’s been very good this year and has scored some big goals,’’ said Kaapo Kakko, one of Chytil’s linemates. “He’s got good speed — especially in the D-zone. Me and ‘Laf’ [Alexis Lafreniere], we try to get the puck out and try to pass to him with his good speed in the middle we’re going to get some three-on-ones.’’
Rangers coach Gerard Gallant praised Chytil for getting “bigger and stronger’’ this year.
“You can say the same thing about his two linemates — they were young kids who got more experience, they’re playing more, they’re growing up,’’ Gallant said. “They’re not kids anymore. They’ve got more games under their belt. They’re playing games, meaningful games and it goes a long way.
“Fil’ got bigger and stronger and played a heavier game and everything else followed. He manages the puck real well. When Fil’s going his best, he’s driving that middle ice with the puck and he’s making things happen, he’s pushing back defensemen. They [that line] do a real good job down low. They manage the puck as good as anyone in the NHL in my opinion.’’
Patrick Kane, one of the Rangers’ key midseason acquisitions, hasn’t been a part of the Rangers-Devils rivalry, having spent his career playing in Chicago, but is looking forward to the intensity of the series.
Though the Rangers and Devils haven’t faced each other in the postseason since 2012, they have a spirited playoff history.
“Playing in the playoffs for so long in Chicago you kind of build those rivalries in the playoffs, like when we played Vancouver or St. Louis or Detroit,’’ Kane said. “You play against them so much it becomes a rivalry. Obviously, these two teams had playoff series in the past and there is a lot of history there with the teams being so close. So, I’m sure they will be pretty exciting games and the fans will into it.’’
Kane, who’s hoisted the Stanley Cup before, was asked what it takes to do so.
“It seems like 16 wins isn’t that many, but it’s a long journey,’’ he said. “The biggest thing I’ve found in the years that we won was that we always overcame some type of adversity. There was something along the way that caused some adversity for the team and if you were able to get through it you came out better at the other end and found ways to win the series.’’
Rangers captain Jacob Trouba left practice early on Monday to tend to a personal matter and is expected by the team to play in Game 1 on Tuesday night at the Prudential Center.
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