JONES GOOD BUT RANGERS BAD START

In the New York Rangers’ preseason opener Sunday, Zac Jones was as solid as his teammates on 

defense were shaky. The Richmonder (Glen Allen) played a regular shift, also served at the left point 

on the power play and, as usual, moved the puck well against homestanding Boston which won 3-0. 

For the most part, Jones was paired with Braden Schneider who was saved from a give-away score by 

veteran goaltender Jonathan Quick. An errant pass by Ben Harpur, like Jones a left-handed defender, 

led directly to the Bruins’ second goal. Quick, signed to back up Igor Shesterkin, allowed a bad goal to 

open the scoring. 

 As expected, neither team used many players expected to be regulars. Forward Alexis LaFreniere, a 

former top overall draft choice, suited up for New York and was used at the right point on the power 

play. The last holdover free agent to sign a new contract, he reportedly could be traded if he can’t prove 

to new coach Peter Laviolette he belongs. Montreal is said to be interested.

 Jones also had a chance to prove his toughness to Laviolette when he took some lumber to the face late 

in the second period but chose not to go after Boston forward Anthony Richard. On Bruins’ TV, it was 

called accidental. Maybe … then again … 

 Standing on his own blue line, Jones took the puck away from Richard who responded by reaching out 

with his stick, catching the 5-10, 185 pounder on the jaw, and sending him to the ice. There was a brief 

scrum in front of the home team’s bench, and a linesman quickly got between Richard and anyone 

thinking about retaliation. There was none, and the Rangers were on their third of four unsuccessful 

power plays of the game. 

Momentarily stunned, Jones, who has had one (winning) fight in two-plus seasons as a pro, nodded he 

was OK and showed no inclination he was thinking about dropping his gloves. Harpur, who was paired 

with Schneider a year ago before spending most of the season as a healthy scratch, fought smaller A.J. 

Greer in the dying minutes and landed most of the punches. 

 Newcomer Erik Gustafsson, who is battling Jones for the job opposite Schneider on the No. 3 

defensive unit, did not dress … but is expected to play in Tuesday’s preseason matchup with the NY 

Islanders at Madison Square Garden… First-line center Mika Zibanejad suffered an upper-body injury 

in practice. So did top rookie Brennan Othmann. How serious remains to be seen … A one-time NHL 

all-star and Stanley Cup winner with LA, Quick allowed three goals on 14 shots. Louis Domingue, who 

has played in the NHL with Pittsburgh and was a teammate of Jones last year with AHL Hartford, 

replaced Quick and stopped all eight shots over the final 29:34 … Brandon Bussi went all the way in 

goal for Boston, posting a 29-save shutout. He made several outstanding saves including a shot by 

Jonny Brodzinski from right on.

Until next time ...