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Rangers teammates rally around struggling Kevin Hayes

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An expected healthy scratch for a second straight game, Kevin Hayes (l.) has found himself in Rangers coach Alain Vigneault's doghouse.Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images

An expected healthy scratch for a second straight game, Kevin Hayes (l.) has found himself in Rangers coach Alain Vigneault’s doghouse.

SUNRISE, Fla. — His coach humbled him, and now his teammates are trying to build him back up.

That’s the state of Rangers forward Kevin Hayes, who is expected to be a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game Saturday night when the Rangers (21-13-4, 46 points) face the surging Panthers (21-12-4, 46 points) who have won their last seven games and are led by 43-year-old ex-Ranger Jaromir Jagr’s 26 points.

Hayes was scratched for the first time this season Wednesday as the Rangers won, 5-2, over Tampa Bay a day after Alain Vigneault harshly criticized the 23-year-old for not meeting expectations or working hard enough. That win was one of the team’s strongest performances over the last month, which resulted in the same lines being used during Friday’s practice at BB&T Center. Hayes worked as an extra defenseman and filled in for Dan Girardi (cracked right kneecap), who was given a day to rest; swelling in Girardi’s knee returned but he is expected to play Saturday.

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“Everyone’s been through it,” winger Mats Zuccarello said of Hayes’ struggles. “I’ve been through it myself. All you can do is try to talk to him and stay positive. You know he’s a good player. Work hard and stay positive, that’s the only thing you can do. That’s the only thing you can control, and when he gets the call back, (he needs to) make sure he’s ready. I think Kevin understands that too.”

Henrik Lundqvist described Hayes as a “very positive guy” and praised him for the good attitude he takes with him to the ice. Camaraderie will be crucial in making sure that remains the case

“I think everybody goes through stretches where you just have to work a little extra hard to get your game going, and everybody’s trying to push each other,” Lundqvist said. “We’re a tight group and we’re here for each other. He’ll get it going for sure.”

Benching Hayes may be best for the team in the short term, but the Rangers clearly want him to work harder to help the team achieve its big-picture goals. Hayes has shown flashes of high-level talent in his young career, and his improving would go a long way toward helping the Rangers make another long playoff run.

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They have to get to the postseason first, though, and the Rangers know that’s not a given after falling back to the pack in the Eastern Conference during their recent rough stretch.

“I think each year now the league is getting better and tougher, and competition is higher,” Lundqvist said. “Look at last year: Boston and L.A. miss the playoffs. It’s never a guarantee.”

The Rangers have tough games against the Panthers, Stars and Capitals over the next week, but Lundqvist senses a turnaround is on the horizon.

“I think we’re moving in the right direction,” he said. “That’s the feeling we have in here, and last game was a good step for us.”

Tags:
new york rangers ,
kevin hayes ,
nhl

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