Decision looms for talented wing Chytil

As the Rangers await their road trip to Chicago and California that begins next week, a decision is pending on talented 19-year-old winger Filip Chytil. But as of now, the club is continuing to give him a chance to prove he belongs.

Chytil can play two more games — the Garden matches against the Flames on Sunday and the Panthers on Tuesday — before he reaches his season max of nine games that would keep the first year of his entry-level contract from beginning. But if he played the next contest, Thursday’s match at Chicago that precedes the three-game trip to California, that first year would burn.

So the audition continues, as first-year head coach David Quinn kept Chytil on the wing for Friday’s practice in Tarrytown, alongside Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello, the same spot he started in — but did not finish — for the 4-3 overtime loss Wednesday at Washington.

“As long as he continues to put forth an effort, we’re going to let him play because we think very highly of him,” Quinn said. “He’s a big piece of our future and I think he could be good right now. This isn’t just about the future, this is about us winning hockey games right now and we think he can help us.”

➤ Goalie Marek Mazanec joined the Rangers for practice and is set to be Henrik Lundqvist’s backup at least for Sunday night’s game. Alexandar Georgiev, who had won the opening-night job as the backup, but had started just one of the first seven games, was sent to AHL Hartford and was likely to play both games over the weekend. The plan is for Georgiev to be called back up and go with the Rangers on their trip.

➤ Defense partners Kevin Shattenkirk and Fredrik Claesson both missed Friday’s practice for what Quinn called “maintenance” due to “a couple minor things.” They are both expected to practice Saturday.