Tanner bidding to stick

TANNER Glass spent most of Wednesday in his car, but it was worth it for the veteran winger to make his NHL return and spend most of the night’s 2-1 Rangers shootout loss at Barclays Center in the Islanders’ defensive zone.

“I had the day off, so I was actually in New York from Monday night through this morning,” Glass said after throwing five hits and putting three shots on goal in 10:01 of ice time in his first NHL action since Oct. 13. “I drove back to Hartford this morning, left at 6:30, got to the rink at 8:30 and the first person I saw was (Hartford Wolf Pack coach) Ken Gernander.

“He’s like, ‘You gotta turn around and go back,’ ” Glass recalled. “First I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ But obviously it’s a good thing. “

Glass was only recalled from the AHL because right wing Emerson Etem was sick, but he made a strong case to stay and avoid being waived, as he was on Oct. 21 after just two appearances early this season. He formed the Blueshirts’ best line on the left of center Oscar Lindberg and J.T. Miller.

Glass has a chance to stick on the roster. The team probably will need to carry at least an extra forward on next week’s threecity trip through Western Canada. Center Derek Stepan (broken ribs, out 4-6 weeks) and defenseman Kevin Klein (strained oblique muscle, out 2-3 weeks) are out long-term.

DEBUT OF THE MAC

Rookie defenseman Dylan McIlrath acquitted himself well in his first taste of the Rangers-Islanders rivalry, playing steadily on the blue line in 15:21 of ice time with three hits, two shots on goal and two blocked shots.

McIlrath has played well in almost all seven of his appearances this season, and the Blueshirts’ 2010 first-round pick now has a golden opportunity with Klein sidelined.

For the first time in his last three games, McIlrath did not drop the gloves, though it appeared that he declined an offer to go from Islanders forward Matt Martin late in the third period.