One thing is for certain about the elongated start to the Rangers’ season, there has been ample time to experiment with line combinations.
Ahead of Thursday’s matchup with the Devils in Newark, coach David Quinn shuffled center Brett Howden to the second line between Kaapo Kakko and Chris Kreider. Howden skated on the third line through the first three games of the season.
“I didn’t love what I saw from that [second] line,” Quinn said following practice Tuesday. “I think the line balance might be a little bit better [with Howden]. I thought Howds had a decent night the other night [against the Oilers].