TAMPA, Fla. — Well, that didn’t last long.
The day after he collected a pair of assists and scored the game-winning shootout goal while playing right wing in the Rangers’ 5-4 shootout win over the Florida Panthers, Kevin Hayes was back at center Sunday as the Rangers practiced at Amalie Arena in preparation for Monday’s game against the NHL’s top team, the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“I’m not a winger anymore,’’ Hayes announced with a smile.
Coach David Quinn had moved Hayes, his No. 2 center, to right wing on the No. 1 line, with center Mika Zibanejad and left wing Chris Kreider, putting his three top scorers together for Saturday’s game against the Panthers.