After yesterday’s practice, Rangers coach John Tortorella repeatedly said that winger P.A. Parenteau — the same player who was recalled from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack before Saturday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs — was the Blueshirts’ best forward in Toronto.
But while Tortorella was praising Parenteau, it also was an indictment of his other players, because the Rangers can’t be relying on players like Parenteau and fellow call-up Corey Locke to keep them within shouting distance of the Eastern Conference’s eighth playoff spot.
“P.A. was probably our best forward [Saturday],” Tortorella said. “That’s great for him, but that’s not good for our hockey team. He can’t be our best forward.”
Locke will hope to have a similar impact tonight at Nassau Coliseum against the Islanders. The 25-year-old was recalled from Hartford because of the left knee injury Sean Avery suffered in the second period Saturday night.
The 5-foot-9 Toronto native, who will be making his Rangers regular-season debut, has 29 goals and 51 assists for 80 points in 73 games with Hartford this season.
“[Scoring is] what he does,” Parenteau said of his former Hartford line-mate. “He’s not here for his defensive game . . . he can definitely make a difference, I really believe so.”
The forward, a fourth-round pick by Montreal in 2003, has scored 11 points (five goals and six assists) in his last nine games, and had a simple reason when asked why he’s been so successful this season.
“I’ve had a great opportunity to play with good players down there.” Locke said. “The coaches down there have given me an opportunity to play in all situations, and we had a good group of guys down there that seemed to gel.”
Tortorella is hoping to see more of the same play that Locke has shown with Hartford, but won’t hesitate to go in another direction if he isn’t seeing production.
“This isn’t about development right now, this is about trying to win a hockey game,” Tortorella said. “If Corey Locke does some good things, he’s going to play. If there’s some struggles along the way, we have to make our call.”
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While he isn’t injured, rookie defenseman Matt Gilroy will be scratched in favor of veteran Anders Erikkson for the second straight game.