New addition Strome makes MSG debut

All the way from Edmonton and straight into the lineup.

Ryan Strome arrived at the Garden on Saturday in time to make his Rangers debut in a 4-2 win over the Panthers after coming over in Friday’s trade with the Oilers for Ryan Spooner.

“We feel his best hockey is ahead of him and that’s our job to get it out of him,” head coach David Quinn said. “He’s got every opportunity here to do that.”

The 25-year old played 16:42 at right wing, beginning the night on the third line alongside Brett Howden and Jimmy Vesey.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” Strome said. “Saturday night at MSG, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Strome, who was selected by the Islanders with the No. 5 pick in the 2011 draft, had re- corded a goal and an assist in 18 games with the Oilers this season. The sixth-year pro, who spent the first four with the Isles, has shown flashes of the talent that made him a top pick, but the Rangers are hoping they can find more.

“I think at times, if he’s had any issues it’s that he puts a lot of pressure on himself based on where he was taken,” general manager Jeff Gorton said. “For us, we didn’t draft him fifth overall. So we’re anxious to get him in the lineup to see what he can do for us.”

Gorton said the Rangers had gotten calls on Spooner immediately after they had landed him in the Rick Nash trade last February — including from Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli, who drafted Spooner in 2010 for the Bruins. Instead he signed Spooner to a twoyear deal worth $8 million in July, after the 26-year old had made a solid first impression, but less than four months later Gorton decided to pull the trigger.

“For whatever reason this year, it just hasn’t gone his way,” Gorton said of the winger who had two points in 16 games. “I think he’s a streaky guy.”

➤ It was Brady Skjei’s turn to serve time in street clothes Saturday night as the top-pair defenseman was a healthy scratch for the first time since Dec. 23, 2016.

The 24-year old, who has one goal and six assists in 19 games, came out of the lineup as Brendan Smith went back in.

“He looks indecisive, really, in all areas,” Quinn said. “I think he’s fighting it a little bit mentally.”