MONTREAL — This isn’t exactly what Alain Vigneault had in mind when the Rangers coach decided to play rugged winger Tanner Glass for Game 1 of the team’s first-round playoff series against the Canadiens on Wednesday night at Bell Centre.
But certainly, Vigneault will take it.
Glass scored his second career playoff goal in the first period and the Rangers won, 2-0, getting out to a fast start in the best-of-seven series.
“Expect the unexpected,” Glass said, laughing. “I can’t say I expected it, but our line is confident. We’re confident we can contribute offensively as well as defensively and physically. Tonight, we played a lot of the game in their zone, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Glass was on a line with Oscar Lindberg and Jesper Fast, and Vigneault had sent them out for an offensive-zone draw midway through a first period which the Canadiens were dominating. Lindberg won the faceoff and the puck went to Glass in the slot. He looked up to the point but saw a Montreal winger cheating that way, so turned and lifted a backhand over Carey Price’s glove for the 1-0 lead.
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Glass’ place in the lineup has kept talented 21-year-old Russian rookie Pavel Buchnevich, among others, out. Glass had spent the majority of the season with AHL Hartford after clearing waivers at the end of training camp, and was not called back up until March 6. But his physical style of play is best suited for the postseason, and it paid dividends immediately.
“When you look at the intensity that we played with tonight, that’s going to have to be a calling card of ours as we go along here,” Glass said. “We’re happy with our Game 1 effort, but there is a lot of hockey in front of us.”
Glass now has played 61 playoff games, and said his only other goal was the final tally in a 5-0 victory while with the Penguins.
“This is much bigger,” Glass said.
In 511 career regular-season games, Glass has 24 goals to go along with 639 penalty minutes. And although he didn’t get into a fight Wednesday, he did what he could to throw his body around in limited usage during 8:01 of ice time.
It has been a long season for the 33-year-old. This is the final year of his two-year contract with the Rangers that carries a $1.45 million annual salary-cap hit, and he likely will have to look for work elsewhere next season.
He played just 11 games for the Blueshirts this regular season, but this is time he has been looking forward to most. Vigneault told him he was playing on Tuesday, and it was clear what was expected.
“The message is the same with me as it is all the time — be hard to play against,” Glass said. “Bring that physical presence and be hard to play against.”