BOSTON — The Rangers are hopeful they will be able to get 2012 first-round pick Brady Skjei under contract and into Hartford as soon as possible, sources have told The Post. The Minnesota junior defenseman’s season ended with the Gophers’ NCAA regional semifinal defeat to Minnesota-Duluth on Friday.
Negotiations have not yet begun with the advisers for Skjei, who turned 21 on Thursday. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound lefty could be in line to join the Rangers’ roster for the playoffs if he signs and performs well for the AHL Wolf Pack, who have nine games remaining.
Rick Nash reached the 40-goal milestone for the third time in his career by converting Chris Kreider’s give-and-go feed at 16:49 of the second period of Saturday’s 4-2 loss to the Bruins, but No. 61 sure wasn’t celebrating.
“Honestly, I’d much rather have not scored and have us win the game,” said Nash, who scored 41 goals with Columbus in 2003-04 and 40 as a Jacket in 2008-09. “I care about wins. That’s it.”
Tanner Glass has been fined $3,897.85, the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement, for butt-ending Boston defenseman Adam McQuaid as time expired. McQuaid ran several Rangers, including Glass and Keith Yandle, throughout the match but was penalized.
If Glass is suspended, the Blueshirts would have to recall a forward from Hartford for Sunday afternoon’s Garden match against the Capitals. They have been carrying just 12 healthy forwards since Martin St. Louis went down with a knee injury on March 15.
James Sheppard had fought Matt Bartkowski at 14:36 of the third after the Bruins defenseman engaged Glass.
The Rangers were not awarded a power play for the second straight game. The Blueshirts have gone 147:53 since being awarded their last man-advantage at 12:07 of the second period against the Kings on Tuesday. The club has had only 21 total power plays over its last 11 matches.
Coach Alain Vigneault moved Nash back to the left side of Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello in the third, elevating Jesper Fast to the right with Kreider and Derek Stepan while shifting J.T. Miller back to the right with Kevin Hayes and Carl Hagelin.