DETROIT — The newly formed Rangers big line of Rick Nash, Eric Staal and Viktor Stalberg raised expectations, but in their first game together on Saturday, didn’t put a point on the scoreboard.
All three are taller than 6-foot-3 and over 200 pounds, and coach Alain Vigneault hopes the size and strength will make matchups difficult.
Nash, who had missed 20 games, was the most effective of the three. In 17:12, he was a presence defensively, had two shots on goal and four that missed.
In 16:23, Staal had one shot on goal and his holding penalty with 2:05 to play permitted Detroit to pull goaltender Petr Mrazek to create a six-on-four, an advantage that led to the game-tying goal.