MONTREAL — Tanner Glass has had six months of perspective in the minors, so being grateful just for where he is and being a good teammate at this point have come naturally.
Glass still had a smile on his face at Wednesday’s practice, one day after the rugged Rangers winger was scratched in favor of talented rookie Pavel Buchnevich for the team’s 2-1 victory in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series against the Canadiens. It was the most complete performance from the Blueshirts in this best-of-seven contest, now knotted at two games apiece with Game 5 on Thursday night at the Bell Centre.
And because of that, and despite Glass being one of the team’s best forwards in the series’ first three games, the 33-year-old veteran knows he’s likely to stay out — at least for the time being.
“I said it when I went in: ‘We have a lot of depth on this team and a lot of players who bring different elements,’” Glass said. “Depending on the lineup that night, and who the coaches see fit to help us that night, we’re getting behind those guys. Hopefully it’s a long run here and I’ll get another chance.”
It didn’t help that Game 3 was an awful performance from the whole team, a 3-1 loss on Sunday night at the Garden when the Rangers offense completely dried up. Bringing Buchnevich in gave coach Alain Vigneault the ability to roll four lines, all with offensive capabilities, and they performed.
“We didn’t generate a lot of offense in Game 3, as everyone knows, I’m not known for my offensive prowess,” Glass said. “I’m happy for Buch, he had a really good game [Tuesday] night. Whatever we can do to beat Montreal is what I’m going to get behind.”
Vigneault kept his lineup looking the same in Wednesday’s practice, with defenseman Nick Holden still alongside Marc Staal, while the extras on the back end were Kevin Klein and Steven Kampfer.
It also left Brendan Smith with rookie Brady Skjei, a duo that has played an increasingly large role.
“Brady’s skating ability permits them to not spend hopefully a lot of time in our end,” Vigneault said of the combo. “The quicker we’re out of there, the better off we are. Just like any team, you want to spend the least amount of time in your end and go and work your way to the other end. And I think that’s what Brady helps Smitty with.”
The forward lines stayed the same, as well, with the “KZB” line of Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Buchnevich occasionally rotating Glass in.
Vigneault doubled down on his pre-series proclamation that his team was an underdog to the Atlantic Division-winning Canadiens.
“No doubt going into this series, Montreal was highly favorites,” he said Wednesday. “We gave ourselves a chance here.”