Tyler Motte back in lineup for Rangers in Game 6 vs. Penguins

PITTSBURGH — The Rangers acquired Tyler Motte from the Canucks for a fourth-rounder at the NHL trade deadline on March 21 to bolster their playoff readiness.

Friday night, Motte was finally able to help.

Motte, who combines speed with a physical edge, was inserted on fourth-line center Kevin Rooney’s left wing along with Ryan Reaves for the first-round, win-or-else Game 6 against the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena.

It marked his first game since suffering an upper-body injury in a 3-0 win over the Penguins on April 7 at Madison Square Garden.

Motte, who had been skating on his own, finally rejoined the Rangers for a team practice on Thursday before the team departed for Pittsburgh. Coach Gerard Gallant said after Friday’s morning skate that Motte had been cleared to play.

“A lot of speed,” Gallant said when asked what the Rangers would get back with Motte in their lineup. “A penalty killer, good defensive hockey player. He brings a lot of things to our team. His speed is definitely noticeable, so that helps a lot.”

Motte, an impending unrestricted free agent, went without a point or a penalty in nine regular-season games after being traded. 

Defenseman Patrik Nemeth, who logged 16 seconds in Game 5 as Gallant dressed seven blue-liners, was a healthy scratch

Kreider’s thoughts

Chris Kreider is the lone remaining Ranger from 2014, when the team successfully rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the second round to oust the Penguins.

He said the current Rangers were taking the same steps as eight years ago as they tried to duplicate that turnaround.

“Belief in the room, belief in each other,” Kreider said. “Commitment to playing as a group and understanding we have to do it as a team and not as individuals. Doing everything we can, as a team, to stay in the moment and take it one shift at a time.”

‘Awesome to see’

Mika Zibanejad’s top line with Kreider and Frank Vatrano struggled through the first five games of this series.

The opposite was true of the Rangers’ Kid Line, with Filip Chytil, 22, centering Alexis Lafreniere, 20, and Kaapo Kakko, 21, on a quickly-maturing third trio.

“Confidence,” Zibanejad said specifically of Chytil. “He trusts himself and his game. I think everyone has been able to see his potential and what he can do. It’s been coming along all year. The same thing with Laffy and Kakko. It’s fun to see those young guys come through and play like they have been. It’s been awesome to see and it’s been awesome for our group, as well.”

Pens’ notes

Goalie Tristan Jarry (foot), who has yet to dress for the Penguins this series, participated in the teams’ morning skate in “full capacity,” per coach Mike Sullivan. That would seem to indicate his potential return is imminent but Alex D’Orio continued to back up Louis Domingue…Rickard Rakell (upper body) remained out despite participating in the morning skate. He was injured in Game 1….Defenseman Brian Dumoulin (lower body) did not skate and has not dressed since Game 1.