Alex Georgiev is not planning for an increased workload down the stretch, even though that seems likely to happen. Instead, the Rangers’ backup goalie is taking one day at a time — which includes a scheduled start for the Garden match against the Bruins on Wednesday night.
“Hockey is so unpredictable, you can’t plan even one week ahead,” Georgiev said after Tuesday’s practice in Tarrytown. “You have to go day by day.”
Georgiev, 23, spent the 10-day break with AHL Hartford, playing three games. He returned and played the Rangers’ first game out of the break, a 1-0 loss to the Flyers on Jan. 29. That has helped him stay sharp while only getting 14 starts in the Blueshirts’ first 52 games.
It’s on the coaching staff — including goaltending guru Benoit Allaire — to monitor how starter Henrik Lundqvist feels. Lundqvist, who will turn 37 on March 2 and has carried quite the load for the first half of the season, is going to start Friday night against the Hurricanes after the pregame ceremony honoring the Rangers’ 1994 Stanley Cup-winning team.
“It’s something that Benny and I talked about today and I’ll talk to Hank some more about it,” coach David Quinn said. “Just something we have to stay on top of.”
Winger Jesper Fast missed a third straight practice for what the team called “maintenance,” although he hasn’t missed a game since returning Dec. 29 from an upper-body injury.
“He’s got a situation where we think it’s probably best to give him off days leading into games,” Quinn said. “Obviously he’s a guy that gives his all. We don’t worry about his conditioning or sharpness. Right now, that’s just the best course of action to allow him to have his best health and allow him to play, night in and night out.”
Since missing five games around Christmas with that upper-body injury, Fast has played 16 straight. The team only has 12 healthy forwards, and no call-up was planned.
“We don’t see it being something — unless he gets injured in a game or whatnot. But we’ll continue to take this path barring something crazy happening,” Quinn said.
Defenseman Neal Pionk is set to be a healthy scratch Wednesday, so it looks like rugged winger Cody McLeod will rejoin the lineup, on the fourth line next to Boo Nieves and Jimmy Vesey.
Nieves has had some good moments since being called up Dec. 18, but Quinn doesn’t want him to get overly focused on his lack of production: he has just two goals and seven points in 20 games.
“When he’s playing a simple game, he’s an effective player,” Quinn said. “Sometimes what can happen to Boo is he lets the points and the offensive piece of his game get in the way of all of the other things he’s going to need to do to be a consistent player at this level.”
Defenseman Freddy Claeeson practiced again in a non-contact jersey after rejoining the Rangers for Monday’s morning skate. He has been out since suffering a right shoulder injury Jan. 12.