Hajek soaking in opportunity for consistent ice time

SEATTLE — The last time Libor Hajek played this many games in a row was a stretch of nine contests from mid-December to early January last season.

Hajek, who skated in his sixth consecutive game in Thursday night’s loss to the Kraken, then didn’t play in 59 of the next 67 matchups, including all 20 playoff games. Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant assured that Hajek would not be subjected to the same limited playing time as last season. So far, the club has kept that promise.

“It’s been a while [since] I’ve played that many games in a row,” Hajek told The Post after the Rangers’ optional morning skate at Climate Pledge Arena. “I’m just trying to enjoy every game. I just think I need to be confident. Every game must be good, you know, like consistent. Just working on that and being the best part for the team and help the team to win.”

The 24-year-old defenseman said he’s tried to focus on the little details and just keeping his game simple, which is something the coaching staff has asked of him. During the eight games in which he’d played o far, Hajek had played a relatively solid game. Considering how little he played last season, it will likely take a while until

Hajek can begin taking major strides.

Braden Schneider has logged the most minutes next to Hajek and the two have posted pretty decent numbers. They’ve been on the ice for two Rangers goals and just two goals against in 74:31, according to Natural Stat Trick. Their 3.47 expected goals against is just barely lower than Schneider’s 3.62 next to Zac Jones, with whom he’s logged 109:57 of ice time next to.

“It’s really beneficial for him,” Gallant said of Hajek’s recent stretch of games. “It’s not great for Jonesy. He gets a chance to go on a little bit of a run here. He’s played good solid hockey, so that’s what you want. That competition has been going on all year long. We like both of them. We’re happy with our defense obviously. It’s the way it is.

“Jonesy will get another chance. When he does, go in and play well and play solid. He’s a young player.”

Jones was a healthy scratch for a fourth straight game on Thursday.

➤ The Rangers went with the same lineup against the Kraken as they did in their 4-1 win over the Coyotes over the weekend at Madison Square Garden. Goalie Igor Shesterkin earned the starting nod, while Vitali Kravtsov, Ryan Reaves and Jones served as the scratches. Reaves was scratched for the sixth time this season and the fifth time in the last six games.