Chytil (head) will travel to Washington with the team in hopes of playing Friday in Game 3, per Peter Baugh of The Athletic. Chytil only played in 10 games with the big club during the regular season, recording six assists and 22 shots on goal. The 24-year-old has played in 30 career playoff games, logging eight goals and five assists. Another update on his status should surface prior to puck drop versus the Capitals on Friday.
My opinion is I don't think he'll play in game 3, but I do think they should play him against the Caps. I target game 4, up 3-0 in total control, or coming off an L reasonable time to make a lineup change. If he is ready, I wouldn't want him to come back against the Canes with no games played. I say game 4 is perfect. And seeing how well the 4th line has been playing, it is a very open question now who would sit for Chytil. I actually could see it being Cuylle, and if not him Kakko. I seriously doubt they sit Rempe at this point, and I think they keep that 4th line rolling. I don't see it being Wennberg due to his very good PK play. So I could see Cuylle being the odd man out crazy as that sounds.
His availability does present Lav with a tough lineup decision. I still think they'd be wise to not make any changes until game 5 (if nec).
I wouldn’t play him in the capital series with that maniac Wilson out there plus the caps are going to be dirty after that Panarin shit
Even Roslovic scored. He is meh. He can sit. They say if Chytil does play he will be on the wing. I think it makes more sense and more safely to have him play a wing than center.
Agreed, I have this feel it would be Cuylle. I guess it could be Kakko, but I think they might like to play Chytil and Kakko together due to past chemistry. But it could be Roslovic, wouldn't shock me especially in a banging series where Cuylle has value. Not a bad "problem" to have.
With the Rangers medical staff's history of failing to recognize serious injuries it would be crazy to put Filip in the Craps series.
If you don't play him against the Caps, you are looking at the Canes, and they play a hard, grinding, pounding style. To me if he is healthy and cleared, and he is traveling with the team to DC, I play him in game 4 as I wrote above. I think it is the right time (up 3-0 or coming off an L). There may not be a perfect answer, but that's my POV. Again, a good "problem" to have.
Filip played 10 games this year, hasn't been on the ice since 11/2, almost half a year and he's going to make a difference against an angry cheap shotting team like the Craps with Filip's tendency to be oblivious of impending contact?
I doubt he'll make a difference when he first comes back regardless of when it is, Caps, Canes, other. The Canes hit even more than the Caps, physical in your face is their game. I guess my point is, if you are going to bring him back I rather do it in a series we lead against a team we are much better than, which minimizes the risk of team impact, instead of a series against a better team than the Caps game 1. Maybe the answer is don't bring him back at all unless we are in need of a change and trail in a series. I think it is an interesting decision for Lavy.
