Filip Chytil #72 of the Rangers skates past Dmitry Orlov #9 of the Washington Capitals during the first period at Capital One Arena on October 13, 2021. Credit: Getty Images/Patrick Smith
MONTREAL – As troublesome as it was for the Rangers to play against the Canadiens Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada without their second-line center, Ryan Strome (COVID-19 protocol), there was a silver lining for coach Gerard Gallant, in that Strome’s absence offered a chance to get a look at Filip Chytil in an expanded role.
With Strome out, Chytil, 22, moved up from his third-line role to take Strome’s usual place between Artemi Panarin and Kaapo Kakko.