Ah, the old fake-out.
While all signs pointed to Kevin Hayes becoming a healthy scratch for Wednesday’s match at the Garden against the Bruins, coach Alain Vigneault ultimately decided otherwise.
Hence, the sophomore remained in the lineup for the 5-2 victory while Oscar Lindberg unaccountably sat out his fifth straight game. Notably ineffective the previous four games while skating on Eric Staal’s right wing (with J.T. Miller on the left), Hayes remained on Staal’s right, but with Chris Kreider at left wing.
A natural center who played the middle through essentially all of last year’s successful rookie season (notably with the speedy Carl Hagelin a staple on his left flank), the 23-year-old has been on the wing in 11 of the 12 games since Staal’s acquisition on Feb.