Fedor Tyutin had struggled in the first two games of the Rangers season, so Tom Renney decided it was time to communicate one-on-one with the sophomore defenseman.
What did the head coach communicate to Tyutin?
Why, the need to communicate, what else?
“In talking to Fedor, it seems like it’s all boiling down to communication on the ice with his teammates,” Renney said of the Russian-born 23-year-old before the Rangers and Flyers completed their home-and-home last night at the Garden. “It seems as if he’s at a loss as how to support his teammates.
“I don’t know if it’s unfamiliarity with the [English] language, or what, but we’re talking about simple words here. ‘High reverse.’ It should not be the problem that it has been the first two games.” Tyutin spent most of last year partnered with fellow traveler Darius Kasparaitis, who was scratched last night for the third straight time. Now, Tyutin’s been paired with Aaron Ward, who, in addition to being a North American, likes to carry the puck and join the rush more than Kasparaitis does.
“I don’t think playing with Wardo should be any type of an issue for Fedor,” Renney said. “I think, in fact, they should make for a very good pair.
“I think on the whole, as a team, we have to talk a lot more in our own end.
Our goaltenders are pretty vocal. Kevin [Weekes] talks more than Henrik [Lundqvist], and we’re not a quiet team, but we need to do more communicating.
“Some guys are talkers and some guys are guessers.
We don’t want to have guessers on the ice.”
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Kasparaitis “is getting closer,” said Renney, who added that No. 6 would have played last night had Ward been forced to miss the match with the groin pull that caused him to miss Monday’s practice.
“I didn’t have to talk Wardo into being healthy,” the coach said.
“We would never jeopardize the long-term health of a player for the sake of a lineup decision.
“Darius has been skating well in practice. The important thing is that he has the peace of mind in recognizing that we’re all in this together. We want him to be in the physical condition that will allow him to perform at an elite NHL level when he goes into the lineup.” Sandis Ozolinsh continues to make progress in his rehab from offseason knee surgery.
“Medically, he’s probably a couple of weeks away from being cleared to play in a game,” Renney said. “It’s going be up to the coaching staff to design drills that will test him and prepare him for what he’ll face in a game.
“Sandis wants to go. He’s champing at the bit to get off [injured reserve] and play.”
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Colton Orr, a scratch in the first two games, skated in pregame warmups. Renney was prepared to insert the pugilist into the lineup if the Flyers dressed rookie winger Riley Cote, who amassed 259 PIM for the AHL Phantoms last season. Cote did not play in the Flyers’ first two games. Nigel Dawes was the likely candidate to be bumped by Orr. . . . The Rangers entered the match 0-for-9 on the power play.
“Same story as last year: Trying to pass the puck into the net,” Renney said. . . . The Rangers, 2-0-0 following victories over the Caps and Flyers, hadn’t opened with three straight wins since a 3-0-0 getaway in 1989-90.