BOSTON — At least Brendan Smith was able to get well acquainted with what life is like in the defensive zone in the first 20 minutes of his Rangers career — considering that’s where essentially the entire first period of Thursday’s game was played.
“It was like a whirlwind,” Smith, acquired from Detroit on Tuesday, said after the 2-1 victory over the Bruins, in which he played 20:51, primarily paired with Ryan McDonagh. “It’s really tough to learn a system in a couple of days, there’s different lingo I tried to pick up on, so I just tried to keep it as simple as I could.
“Obviously there were some errors out there that I’ll want to correct, but I thought it got better as it went along. I’ll try and build on this and get better.”
Playing with McDonagh, his one-time teammate at Wisconsin, even if almost a decade ago, provided some aid and comfort. Then again, it does for anyone playing on the captain’s right side.
“I love the way he competes on the ice,” McDonagh said. “I was trying to help him, all our guys were, but his speed, the way he challenges players and the physical presence he brings, He’s going to be a big help for our team.”
Pavel Buchnevich’s recall after one game with the AHL Wolf Pack, in which he recorded two goals (including an overtime winner) and one assist, was under emergency conditions when Michael Grabner’s absence left the Rangers with 11 healthy bodies up front.
There is no roster limit following the trade deadline, but teams are limited to four recalls the remainder of the regular season. This one is under emergency conditions, so it does not count against that limit. But it would count as a regular recall if the Rangers decide to keep Buchnevich once Grabner is healthy enough to return to the lineup.
“We’re taking it one day at a time,” Alain Vigneault said before the match when asked if Buchnevich might remain on the roster.
After it was over, the coach said: “I thought he played a strong game. That was a great shot on his goal. I had him out [on a power play] towards the end, he made a few board plays and so … I’m happy with how he bounced back.”
Grabner, who left the ice on Wednesday after taking a crosscheck from Adam Clendening in a practice battle drill, made the trip but did not skate in the morning. He is believed day-to-day.”
With Grabner and Jesper Fast (shoulder separation) missing, Vigneault had both Buchnevich and Jimmy Vesey on in the final minutes protecting a one-goal lead. The coach had routinely been sitting both rookies for the final six-to-eight minutes of tie games or ones in which the Blueshirts were protecting leads.
Kevin Klein, who missed a fifth straight game with lower-back issues, received treatment in New York, but did not go on the ice.
Klein has not skated since leaving the lineup following the Feb. 21 match against Montreal. With Dan Girardi out for a second straight due to ankle injury that is expected to sideline him for at least two weeks, Clendening played his fifth straight.
The Rangers’ power play was 0-for-4 to stretch its futility string to 0-for-19, 1-for-33 and 3-for-52. … The Blueshirts have scored two goals or fewer in seven of their past eight games (16 goals total).
