Experience likely AV’s decision maker

Decisions are coming soon for Alain Vigneault when the Rangers coach makes his lineup for Game 1 of their firstround playoff series against the Canadiens, starting Wednesday night in Montreal.

And at least initially, it seems that experience is going to play a big factor.

“There’s no doubt that that’s a big part of trusting your team,” Vigneault said Monday at the Westchester practice facility. “Guys that have been through the battles, guys that understand about the importance of staying in the moment and not focusing on the outcome.

“But at the end of the day, probably experience when you weigh in at first. You look at that and these guys have proven they have done it in the past. But once a series starts, you have some game-to-game decisions.”

That type of explanation might lead to the idea that rugged winger Tanner Glass is going to start on the fourth line while 21-year-old Russian rookie Pavel Buchnevich will be a healthy scratch. Glass would also create a more cohesive fourth line, a defensively responsible unit with Oscar Lindberg and Jesper Fast.

But that also doesn’t guarantee it’s going to stay that way.

“In the playoffs, you’re going with your people that are playing their best at that time,” Vigneault said. “That could be from a rookie to an older player.”

The Rangers have nine defensemen on the roster, seven of them considered regulars. If Ryan McDonagh, Marc Staal and Brady Skjei are set on the left side, then Vigneault has to make a decision on the right between Dan Girardi, Nick Holden, Kevin Klein and Brendan Smith.

“You never have enough defensemen,” Vigneault said. “Obviously a couple good decisions here to make moving forward, and I will make them in the best interest of the team.”