NHL

Rangers coach ready for Avery’s return

John Tortorella yesterday endorsed the Rangers’ move to reinstate Sean Avery, the coach stating before last night’s 5-2 Garden victory over the Sharks, “It’s the right decision.”

After the game, Tortorella would not guarantee Avery a spot in the lineup Thursday against the Ducks even if he is on the roster, saying, “I don’t know what the lineup is going to be next game … I’m going to force-feed anything.”

Tortorella confirmed that the decision to recall Avery — or at least to make the effort — was tied to Mike Rupp’s ailing left knee that seems likely to sideline the winger for an indefinite period.

“Rupper has a lot to do with this,” Tortorella said. “I’m not sure about that situation, whether Rupper will be able to play, plus there are a couple of other things that go along with that, but it’s the right hockey decision now just like it was the right hockey decision when we sent Sean down.

“When Rupp goes out, to me it’s the right call to bring Sean back because he fills that role. Sean’s best strength are his legs; he’s a terrific skater, and a big part of his game is forechecking and playing below the hash marks.

“We want him to play to his strengths and work on his play away from that, but that’s not different than any player we might call up at any time,” the coach said. “It’s not that convoluted. We want guys to do the best they can to help us win a hockey game.”

Rupp, who has missed the last three matches, visited another doctor yesterday. Tortorella said that no decision has yet been made how to deal with the injury. The coach has neither ruled surgery in or out as a possible course of action.

“This is how it’s gone all year for him,” Tortorella said of Rupp, who signed a three-year, $4.5 million free agent contract out of Pittsburgh to essentially replace Avery on the line with Brian Boyle and Brandon Prust. “He hasn’t gotten off the ground.

“A big man needs be able to practice. It’s been a little bit of a chronic thing.”

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San Jose’s Joe Thornton, who did not have much of a game, said following the match that the Rangers were the “softest team” the Sharks had played on their six-game road trip, though they had won the first five.

“Wonderful,” Tortorella responded when told of the comment.

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Following yesterday’s morning skate, Artem Anisimov said he had lost consciousness, “for a couple of seconds” when asked if he had been knocked out after hitting his head on the glass on the check delivered by Zenon Konopka at 4:05 of the second period of Saturday’s 5-4 shootout defeat to Ottawa.

The Rangers, however, said that Anisimov — who returned to the match within five minutes — did not understand the question and did not at any time lose consciousness.

Anisimov scored his first goal last night, converting a backhand in close after taking a nifty feed from Erik Christensen.

“I don’t know how to explain in English,” Anisimov said after the match. “[I had] too much pressure on my shoulders. When I see the goal go in, the pressure flies away. I feel free.”

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Derek Stepan also scored his first of the season, going to the net to convert a Brandon Dubinsky feed on a power play to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. Ryan McDonagh got his third of year.

The Rangers were not shorthanded until Brian Boyle was called for high-sticking at 19:56 of the second. The Rangers were 1-for-5 on power play and scored the moment one expired. Penalty-killers snuffed all three Sharks man-advantages.

Though the Rangers held a three-goal lead entering the third period at 5-2, just as they held three-goal lead in third period at 4-1 against Ottawa on Saturday before blowing it, the circumstances were completely different.

Saturday, the Rangers had the lead despite long stretches of faulty play. Last night, the Rangers built the lead off a solid foundation.

“There was really no need to talk about it after the second period,” Marty Biron said. “We knew to keep going the way we had been playing.

“We were shorthanded going into the third, so our focus between periods was to kill the penalty.”

Regarding Christensen, who had a pair of assists, Tortorella said: “He shows you those glimpses, and you want it to happen every night but the consistency isn’t there. It’s a mental block for Erik.”

The Rangers outshot an opponent for first time (31-26) while also out-attempting a foe for the first time (55-54). They blocked 16 shots, paced by Boyle’s four.