Rangers giving Juuso Parssinen a shot at third-line center

Coach Mike Sullivan’s decision to start Mika Zibanejad out on the right wing means that there is an opening in the Rangers’ lineup for a third-line center. And judging by the Blueshirts’ first two preseason games, it’s apparent that Juuso Parssinen is getting every opportunity to claim that spot.

Parssinen was the first-line center in the “B’’ lineup the Rangers sent to New Jersey for Sunday’s preseason opener against the Devils, working with wingers Gabe Perreault and Conor Sheary. The line produced two goals, from Perreault and Sheary, and Parssinen got an assist on Sheary’s goal.

In Tuesday’s preseason home opener against the Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers were once again missing most of their big names, and Parssinen again was the first-line center, this time working between Perreault and Will Cuylle.

However, the 24-year-old Finn wasn’t reading anything into the fact he featured in the first two preseason games.

“I just saw my name in the lineup, so that's that means I'm playing today,’’ he said at Tuesday’s morning skate at the MSG Training Center. “I’ve just got to do my best.’’

In his media briefing the day before camp opened, Sullivan talked about what he’s looking for in a third-line center.

“It's a really important role for our team,’’ Sullivan said. “When you look at teams that contend, their third line can be, potentially, a difference maker.

“I think the third line has the ability to create an identity [within] our team where we can rely on that line for conscientious play,’’ Sullivan said. “And what I mean by that is, can they get defensive zone starts against another team's top line? If they lose the draw, can they be reliable and trustworthy to defend hard, and limit our opponent's offense?’’

It’s a different profile than Filip Chytil had when he was the third-line center for most of his six-and-a-half seasons with the Rangers. Chytil was an offensive player who put pressure on opposing teams because of his speed and ability to score and generate offense. The 6-3, 207-pound Parssinen is very different.

A seventh-round draft pick (No. 210 overall) by Nashville in 2019, 208 picks after the Rangers took fellow Finn Kaapo Kakko No. 2 overall, Parssinen has 20 goals and 33 assists in 137 games over three NHL seasons. And last year was rough, as he was traded twice, first by Nashville to Colorado in late December, and then from Colorado to the Rangers, with defenseman Calvin de Haan in the Ryan Lindgren-Jimmy Vesey deal in early March.

But after signing a two-year, $2.5 million contract with the Rangers shortly after the season ended, and playing for Finland at the World Championships, Parssinen has a chance to establish himself as an important player for the Rangers in this camp. And he’s well aware of it.

“It wasn't great, being in three teams and bouncing all over the lineup, [and] sometimes out,’’ Parssinen said of last season. “So I don't take anything for granted. I think it's a huge camp for me. I had a good summer. So, [third-line center] is, of course, a role I want to aim at, and I feel like I can be. But I have a lot to prove.’’

Rangers fall to Bruins in OT

The Rangers coughed up a three-goal lead in the third period and lost to the Bruins, 5-4 on Nikita Zadorov’s goal at 3:25 of overtime. Brett Berard’s second goal in two games, and goals from Trey Fix-Wolansky, Sam Carrick and Vladislav Gavrikov had given the Rangers a 4-1 lead going into the third period, but two goals by Boston’s Michael Eyssimont — one shorthanded — and an extra-skater goal by Marat Khusnutdinov with 1:05 left in regulation forced overtime . . .  Igor Shesterkin started in goal and stopped 10 of 11 shots in 29:53. Talyn Boyko replaced Shesterkin and played 32:12 and allowed four goals on 24 shots.

By Colin Stephenson

colin.stephenson@newsday.comColinSNewsday

Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.