Jacob Trouba of the New York Rangers takes issue with the label “Kid Line” for the team’s line of Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil, and Alexis Lafreniere on Wednesday afternoon.
Trouba reasoned that Chytil is the team’s third-longest serving player. There’s no need to refer to him as a child.
It’s doubtful that the nickname will go away very soon. But Trouba had a point after another spectacular performance by Chytil, who scored twice and drove play on a line that dominated the Lightning in the second half of the New York Rangers’ 6-2 triumph in Game 1 of the conference finals Wednesday night.
New York Rangers Win 6-1
Chytil is looking to make a big mark in the postseason. His line is the Rangers’ third line, but it’s been their best for extended portions of the last month. And Chytil has been the most talented player on the team.
There are several aspects of this playoff run that no one could have predicted. Filip Chytil, who scored only 22 points in the regular season but won the championship, should be towards the top of any ranking. Chytil is now portraying a confident image whenever the puck is on his stick. His first goal came from a move to the slot that took the Lightning off guard, allowing him a clear look at Kakko’s feed from behind the net.
His second goal capped off a masterful shift by the Kids, who trapped the Lightning into their zone for many minutes. According to Natural Stat Trick, Chytil only played 28:13 alongside Kakko and Lafreniere throughout the regular season. Gallant gathered them together before the Penguins’ playoff opening and found something in each of them.
Something that has enabled the New York Rangers to go within three wins of their first Stanley Cup Final trip since 2014.