Rugged winger Tanner Glass was recalled from AHL Hartford and was in the lineup as the Rangers lost a 2-1 shootout to the Islanders on Wednesday night at Barclays Center.
With the two storied rivals meeting for the first time at the Isles’ new home, coach Alain Vigneault was asked before the game if the pugilistic Glass was brought up in case the game got out of control.
“I don’t expect anything to go out of control, but I do agree that the Islanders have a physical team, they play a hard game, and Glasser helps us in that area,” Vigneault said before a game that didn’t have a fight and was rather tepid in temperament until the closing minutes when things started to get a little chippy.
Glass, 32, had been sent down to the minors Oct. 20, and played 17 games for the Wolf Pack, registering two goals, five points and 23 penalty minutes. The team had off on Tuesday, so Glass was in Manhattan with his family. He began driving back to Connecticut on Wednesday morning, and when he got the rink, he was told about the recall and turned around and drove to Brooklyn. He estimated the total time in the car at 5 ¹/₂ hours.
Vigneault was uncertain if Glass would remain with the team beyond Wednesday’s game.
Rangers defenseman Kevin Klein (oblique, two-to-three weeks) and second-line center Derek Stepan (ribs, four-to-six weeks) remain out.
Islanders coach Jack Capuano has struggled this season dealing with forward Ryan Strome, the team’s 2011 first-round pick. Strome returned Friday from a three-week stay in the minors, and his first three games were solid, notching two goals and two assists.
But Wednesday, he made what could have been a major gaffe when he jumped on the ice way too soon during the 3-on-3 overtime, drawing a too-many-men penalty that gave the Rangers a power play.
“I’m not going to go into detail of who jumped — we win and lose as a team,” Capuano said. “Guys have to be a little more focused.”
Defenseman Thomas Hickey stayed in for the Islanders, his third straight game since returning from a broken thumb. Brian Strait was a healthy scratch.