Recovering Klein will sit in Game 1
MONTREAL — The first big lineup decision of the postseason was made by Rangers coach Alain Vigneault, as defenseman Kevin Klein is set to be a healthy scratch for Game 1 of the firstround series against the Canadiens at Bell Centre on Wednesday night.
Klein had missed almost a full month with a back ailment, returning to the lineup March 26 and playing six of the final seven games. The veteran still seemed a little unsteady, and instead Vigneault has chosen the defensive pairs of Ryan McDonaghDan Girardi, Marc Staal-Nick Holden and Brady Skjei-Brendan Smith.
“Kleiner, after having been out so long and not having been able to train for so long, he got the opportunity to play those games near the end. Played all right,” Vigneault said after Tuesday’s practice in Westchester. “He’s a good defenseman. He’s ready, and if we need him moving forward, he’s going to be ready.”
Although Vigneault said “there’s still a decision there to be made” as far as his forwards, it sure seemed like rugged winger Tanner Glass was going to stay in on the fourth line while talented 21-year-old Russian rookie Pavel Buchnevich will be a scratch.
Glass cleared waivers and was sent down at the end of training camp, and played for AHL Hartford until his recall March 6. The veteran pugilist then played 11 of the f inal 17 games, including the final four while tuning up for a postseason that is bound to be more physical.
“Playoffs are great. Love playoffs,” Glass sai d. “The physicality gets ratcheted up, the intensity gets ratcheted up, it’s a fun time of year.”
There were times during the season when it seemed like Glass was going to get called up — none more obvious than Dec. 15, when goalie Hen
rik Lundqvist had been run over by Stars’ forward Cody Eakin, and no one on the Rangers stepped up in retaliation. When the call didn’t come then for Glass, he started to get a little worried. But he never wavered in believing he would be back up.
“There have been some ups and downs, but it’s been my goal and something I’ve worked towards,” Glass said. “I think as the season goes on, the games get tighter and physical play becomes more important. Playoffs are a grind. You have to win four games against the same team. It’s not easy, so hopefully I can help in that.”
Backup goalie Antti Raanta said he is ready to play if called upon. A bone bruise to his right knee forced Raanta to miss what was supposed to be his final start, the regular-season finale against the Penguins on Sunday.