Will Cuylle playing heads up game literally and figuratively as Rangers role keeps growing
Join Post Sports+ for exciting member-only features, including real-time texting with Mollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.Will Cuylle’s got his head in the game.Not just regarding his development in his third New York season, but also quite literally after a fluke goal amid a strong performance in Monday’s 4-0 victory that reminded the Rangers how much the 23-year-old has come into his own — no matter how goofy the reminder was.The left wing, who has bounced around this season on various lines, gave the team a laughable early lead against the Islanders in the first period by being in the right place at the right time.From what was a blocked Zac Jones shot by Islander Kyle Palmieri’s skate, Cuylle managed to score a goal off his perfectly placed helmet that eventually went over Ilya Sorokin.“A real beauty,” head coach Peter Laviolette said with a smile.
“One he’ll remember probably for the rest of his life.”Prior to J.T.Miller’s arrival from Vancouver in late January, Cuylle saw the most success in the third-line role with Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko early on this season.However, with Miller back where he started his 13-year NHL career, Cuylle has found comfort on the line with veterans Miller and Mika Zibanejad, and the Rangers are liking what they’re seeing.The 60th pick of the 2020 draft came up big in another key play on Monday during the first period, when the Rangers were twice called for too-many-men penalties, bringing their brutal season total to nine, the second most in the league.While the Islanders were on the power play, Noah Dobson knocked into Cuylle, sending him flying backward, unable to grab possession.
Despite the blow, Cuylle was able to poke the puck into the neutral zone for Sam Carrick to collect.The center then led the shorthanded charge to goal and dropped the puck for Will Borgen, who zinged it into the net for a 2-0 lead.“It was a loose puck.I was trying to poke it by him and just tried to ...