Pre-Game Talk: Resting our stars, playing our kids (NYR@MTL Apr 12)

[Beacon]

I know teams want to end regular seasons on a high note, but I always felt that for a team in the Rangers position, it makes sense to rest stars and vets like Lundqvist, McD, Nash, Step, MSL, MZA, etc.


1. Rest before the hopefully long playoff run. This may turn out very useful if we go to Game 7 in the playoffs.

2. Don't risk injury. Would be awful to lose someone to a freak injury.

3. Gives kids like Talbot, Fast, Miller, Allen, Falk, maybe Lindberg a chance to play.

4. No pressure to win. A loss is expected, so we can come off on a high if we lose, and no disappointment if we lose. Do players want to win every game? Sure, but they aren't machines who don't get why we might want to rest before a playoff run.

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[GAGLine]

Talbot will almost certainly start. I don't expect any call ups for this game. Fast will play. Maybe Haggerty will play. Falk might finally get a game. Maybe give Girardi a rest.

 

[17futurecap]

I don't think there will be any call ups with the Pack up in Newfoundland for the weekend. Have no problem starting Talbot and putting in Falk, Haggerty and Carcillo.

 

[aufheben]

Does 1 more game really make that much difference in terms of rest?

Give Talbot the start, play Fast, call it a day.