Blueshirts’ backups step up in huge spot
The Rangers have been preaching the importance of depth all season, and Oscar Lindberg is doing what he can to prove it true.
The Blueshirts’ fourth- line center scored twice in his team’s 4- 1 win over the Senators in Game 4 of their second- round series Thursday night at the Garden, giving Lindberg three goals in the postseason. His line with Tanner Glass and J. T. Miller combined for five points, and allowed coach Alain Vigneault to roll all four lines yet again as his team won its second straight at home to tie this best- of- seven series at two games apiece going back to Ottawa for Game 5 on Saturday afternoon. “You give your top guys a little bit more room to breathe and not have to overplay them all the time,” Lindberg said. “I think by playing four lines you make it tough on the other team.” Glass came into the lineup in Game 3, replacing talented rookie Pavel Buchnevich, who had played the previous five postseason games. But Buchnevich had gotten only one shift after the second period of Game2’ s double- overtime loss, and the move had also forced Lindberg into a game- low 5: 07 of ice time.
But the 25- year- old Swede — who could be making a case to be taken by the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft— made the most of his 10: 56 in Game 4.
“We have to have four lines that can play,” Vigneault said. “If you expect to win, you’re going to need contributions from your whole team and we definitely got that.”
Rangers forward Rick Nash is obviously battling some minor injury, but Vigneault said “he’s fine” before Nash got 17: 15 of ice time and registered five shots on goal in Game 4.
The 32- year- old did not practice with the team Wednesday for what Vigneault called “maintenance,” the same reason given for him missing another full- team practice the day before this series started.
Derek Stepan played in his 95th playoff game, all with the Rangers, sitting alone as the most postseason games played by a forward in the organization’s history.
“It’s really cool,” Stepan said. “I’ve been fortunate to be part of some great hockey teams. To be on a list with an Original Six organization — on top of a list — is really cool. It’s something that I’ll keep really close to my heart for a long time.”
Topping the Rangers all- time list is goalie Henrik Lundqvist, with 126 playoff games played. The two skaters in front of Stepan are defensemenDan Girardi ( 119) and Marc Staal ( 102).