Metropolitan Notes: Chytil, Islanders, Rowney

The Rangers will allow center Filip Chytil to participate in the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championships, reports Larry Brooks of the New York Post.  Chytil, the 21st overall pick back in June, has gotten off to a strong start this season.  He made New York’s lineup out of training camp and since being sent to the minors, he has put up better than a point per game.  Brooks adds that the Rangers are expected to assign him back to AHL Hartford following the tournament instead of loaning him back to HC Zlin of the Czech Extraliga which would have allowed him to close out the season playing closer to home.

More from the Metropolitan:

• Although the Islanders have split their goaltending appearances equally between Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss through the first 22 games of the season, head coach Doug Weight told reporters, including Newsday’s Laura Albanese, that this will likely change as one gets on a roll: “We’re behind them, we want to support them, we trust them, but it’s big boy hockey and whoever takes it is going to go and run a little more than the other one, for sure.” At the moment, it looks like Greiss could be the one to get the first chance to play more often having won his last four starts, compiling a .918 SV% in that span.
• Penguins center Carter Rowney was with the third line in practice on Thursday, signaling that he could be ready to return to the lineup after missing the last 14 games with a broken hand. However, he told Jerry DiPaola of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that a decision on his playing status won’t be made until game time on Friday.  One impact of his return will be shifting Jake Guentzel back to the wing after he played down the middle on Wednesday against the Canucks.