AV shows little faith in Shattenkirk

Alain Vigneault is seemingly doing what he can to keep his rotation both up front and on the back end throughout games, but sometimes the Rangers leave their coach with very little chance to do so.

During Thursday night’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Devils, Vigneault decided he had seen enough of first-year Ranger Kevin Shattenkirk, sitting him for the final 7:28 of regulation. The defenseman did get two shifts in the three-on- three overtime then was the final shooter in the skill competition, getting stopped by goalie Cory Schneider to end the game.

“You know, at the end of the day, when the game gets [to] crunch time, you do what you feel is best for the team,” Vigneault said. “That’s what we felt was best for the team.”

Like most of the Rangers on this night, Shattenkirk had trouble with puck management, the most glaring offense coming when he turned it over in the neutral zone and allowed Blake Coleman to tie the game, 2-2, on a shorthanded goal at 16:24 of the second period.

The Rangers allowed 48 shots, the eighth time in the past 16 games going to Nov. 15 they have allowed 40 or more. During that stretch, they are averaging 37.87 shots against per game. Their season average of 33.63 is fourth-highest in the league.

At least this one night, Vigneault had an explanation.

“In the first two periods, I can point to turnovers,” said Vigneault, his team having given up 38 shots through 40 minutes. “We turned it over and turned it over and turned it over and gave them some good looks.”

Rookie center Boo Nieves was a healthy scratch for the second straight game, bumped from the lineup since Mika Zibanejad’s return from a nine-game absence due to a concussion.