Quinn works to fix Rangers’ mental lapses

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Rangers practiced changes on Monday in Los Angeles before flying here for Tuesday’s match against the Sharks. Of course they did, in the aftermath of picking up a too-many-men penalty for the third straight game and fifth time in 11 games overall.

This one was damaging, coming as it did midway through the second period when Tony DeAngelo jumped too early, fewer than two minutes after a Kings’ power-play goal had brought LA to within 2-1. The Kings quickly capitalized on the mental blunder to score another power-play goal en route to a 4-3 victory.

“They’ve all been on defense changes except for the first one in the opener when a couple of guys jumped on to make it seven-on-five after we pulled the goalie,” said David Quinn, the coach who on Sunday was visibly angry talking about the mounting gaffes. “It’s been addressed. It can’t happen.”

Marc Staal said while there is no difference in changing, per se, from the last coach to this one, the de- fensemen coming onto the ice have different assignments based on the breakout.

“The assignment is different when you come on if they’re setting up behind the net as opposed to swinging through the zone,” No. 18 said. “That’s what we were working on in the dump-in drills. We were clarifying that.”

Pavel Buchnevich, benched for large swaths of Sunday’s third period after a handful of uninvolved shifts, skated on a practice fourth line with Filip Chytil and either Cody McLeod or Vinni Lettieri. This benching came fewer than three weeks after a third-period benching on Oct. 13 that was followed by a healthy scratch on Oct. 16.

“Sometimes it takes a little longer,” Quinn said. “Nobody has lost faith in him. There’s a growth process. Pavel has a lot of talent. We just have to get it out of him.”

Vladislav Namestnikov, one of the team’s most engaged forwards the last week or so, has been promoted to the first line. No. 90, who scored Sunday’s first goal on a right wing power rush to the net, will play on the left with Mika Zibanejad in the middle and Mats Zuccarello on the right.

“His play certainly merits it,” Quinn said. “He’s been playing with pace and with an edge to his game. He’s been a productive player in this league. He deserves the opportunity.”

Jimmy Vesey, mean- while, will skate with Brett Howden and Jesper Fast while the Chris KreiderKevin Hayes-Ryan Spooner remains intact. For the moment.

Adam McQuaid, who missed Sunday’s game with a lower-body injury he sustained in the first period of Thursday’s defeat in Chicago, did not skate. He is officially day-to-day but he won’t play Tuesday.

Quinn said he intends to start Alex Georgiev in nets either Tuesday against the Sharks or Thursday in Anaheim against the Ducks.