Libor Hajek earned his first NHL assist with 14:56 left in the third period against Winnipeg on Thursday, as Jacob Trouba and Mika Zibanejad combined for an impressive game-tying goal. Save for a roughly 15-second cameo, that was the last action Hajek would see on the night. It’s not exactly a stunner that Head Coach David Quinn would lean on veterans Brady Skjei and Marc Staal in a close game, but benching a 21-year-old shutdown defenseman for practically a whole period in a season that is still about development is certainly a noteworthy decision.
Rangers Need Hajek to Handle Pucks Better
