Brian Boyle had been on the bench for just over 10 minutes against the Red Wings at the Garden on Thursday night when he was called upon by coach Alain Vigneault to take a faceoff in the defensive right wing circle with 44.5 seconds to go in the third period. Detroit had the extra attacker and the Rangers were protecting a 1-0 lead.
Boyle beat the estimable Henrik Zetterberg on the draw, Ryan Callahan was able to clear the zone, and the Blueshirts soon after were celebrating Henrik Lundqvist’s ninth career 1-0 shutout victory.
“It was good to get the opportunity to somewhat contribute in a big spot,” Boyle, who had previously gotten only two third-period shifts for 1:20 and hadn’t been on the ice since the 9:05 mark, told The Post following Friday’s practice. “It was a big draw, it was on the [correct] side of the ice [for a lefty] and I pride myself in being able to come up big in those situations.
“I have to stay ready for spots like that. I was holding my stick pretty tight, probably from pent-up aggression.
The Rangers meet the Senators in Ottawa on Saturday afternoon before returning home to face the Capitals at the Garden on Sunday night. Cam Talbot will get the call against the Senators with Lundqvist, who has started six straight and nine of the last 10, set to return to the net on Sunday.
Vigneault historically has believed in a four-line rotation throughout his career behind the bench. But the coach deviated from his philosophy both on Thursday and in Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat to the Lightning.
Boyle, who plays left wing on a fourth unit with center Dominic Moore and right wing Daniel Carcillo, got 9:14 against Detroit after playing just 8:25 against Tampa Bay, on the bench for the final 9:56 of that third period during which he got only two shifts worth 1:13 of ice.
“All I want is the chance to compete, the way we all do,” Boyle said. “None of us would be here without that competitive drive.
“It was good to hear my name called.”
The last two games represented Boyle’s second- and third-lowest ice-times of the year, with No. 22 having played 8:17 against Pittsburgh on Dec. 18. The numbers are similar for Moore, as well. It should be noted Boyle and Moore are on the team’s top two penalty-kill units, but the Rangers were shorthanded just twice apiece in their last two matches.
“I think [it’s because of] a combination of different things,” Vigneault said, specifically talking about the Red Wings match. “Faceoffs in the offensive zone … we’ve got three lines right now that in my estimation are generating good offensive zone possession time.
“Sometimes for whatever reason, lines can get out of the flow and I think that’s what happened a little bit to Dom’s line. The flow didn’t permit me to use them.”
Boyle has started 50.9-percent of his shifts in the defensive zone, the fourth highest such ration in the NHL among players with at least 400 minutes played and only 16.4-percent in the offensive zone, the fifth lowest ration of that kind in the league.
The 29-year-old, who leads the Rangers in faceoff percentage at 55.6, is a pending unrestricted free agent coming off a three-year deal worth an average of $1.7 million per that he signed following his 21-goal, 35-point 2010-11 season. He has three goals and seven assists this year.
“We talked a little bit early in the year [about an extension] but there’s been nothing for a while,” Boyle said. “I love it here, but I’m also realistic.
“There are a lot of guys here with bigger roles than I have. I don’t really know how I fit into their plans from a coaching or management perspective. But it doesn’t do any good to worry about it.”