Kris Knoblauch is the perfect front man as the New York Rangers enter another contest with their eyes set on a win. Since his emergency call up due to
David Quinn testing positive for COVID-19, Knoblauch has been in constant contact with the head coach. They speak by phone or zoom daily, and multiple times on game days.
So while the Blueshirts have won three of their last four with some new faces behind the bench, it is still Quinn and his staff pulling the strings and making the calls.
After the Rangers demolished the
Flyers 9-0, Knoblauch detailed how Quinn and the staff prepared them. “I talked to Quinny throughout the day – we probably had six phone calls,” he revealed. “Obviously the game plan was set out for us – well prepared.” Expectedly, Quinn detractors disregarded those comments and felt Mika Zibanejad’s breakout game was due to Knoblauch.
“A big part of our success tonight came off O-zone face-offs,” Knoblauch began to explain. “I remember that was one of the things [Quinn] told me before the game was to give our top lines more opportunities to score. Have them take those offensive zone face-offs.” Once again, Knoblauch details how he is executing a predetermined game-plan that includes how to distribute ice time.
Credit where credit is due. Knoblauch has done a great job executing for the Rangers, but we all need to remember where he gets his marching orders from. This surge by the Rangers belongs primarily to the players, but Quinn deserves tremendous credit as well.