Many New York Rangers fans got exactly what they wanted when names like Marc Staal and Ryan McDonagh went down with injuries, the call-ups of Neal Pionk and John Gilmour.
Neal Pionk was first recalled after the injury to Marc Staal against the Predators. Pionk, who is a much-needed right-handed shot to the Rangers corps, has provided plenty of skating ability and flashes of two-way play. In six games Pionk has only registered one assist but looks comfortable on the blue line in the offensive zone. Pionk starts well over 50 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone but only carries a 49.