It was just the Rangers’ first exhibition game, only the first time Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik played together against what coach John Tortorella likes to call, “different colors,” but there’s little doubt that the elite dispatcher and world-class sniper are going to combine to present a world of trouble for opponents.
Richards will carry the puck. Gaborik will look for seams and to jump into openings. The left wing on the first line — a true blue first line the club has lacked since Tortorella arrived two-thirds of the way through 2008-09 — will be a complementary piece, whether it’s Wojtek Wolski or a forward to named later.
“When Richie has the puck, he’s always looking. We worked a few give-and-go’s and created chances at even strength and on the power play,” said Gaborik, who scored a power play goal and had an even-strength assist on a Richards’ goal in the Rangers’ 4-3 victory over the Devils in New Jersey last night. “It was only the first game and obviously we have things to work on, but I thought it was good.”
Gaborik won’t carry the puck as much he has been accustomed to throughout his career. That job will fall to Richards, who admitted that he needs to play himself into regular-season game shape.
“That will be a little bit of an adjustment, but I’m going to try to get lost when he’s carrying it,” Gaborik said. “If I get open, I know the puck will be on my stick and if guys are on me, he will find the open man.”
Wolski, who has completed the trio through most of camp, had an average night. Tortorella repeated that he would look at a other options on the left, but with the way thing are falling at least at the moment, that seems the most logical alignment to start the season.
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The Blueshirts went with five forwards on the first power play unit, with Gaborik, Ryan Callahan and Brian Boyle up front and Richards and Wolski at the points.
Richards, the quarterback, switched between left and right, lining up each time behind the circle in which the puck was dropped.
“I don’t remember if I did that with Torts [in Tampa Bay], but I’ve been doing that for the last few years,” he told The Post. “I’m just as comfortable on either side. “What can I say? I like to have the puck.”
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Though Tortorella said there was good and bad with Michael Del Zotto in last night’s game, the coach left no doubt that he has been impressed with the young man’s mental approach throughout training camp.
“Michael is in much better shape,” Tortorella said of the third-year defenseman who is trying to earn his way back to the NHL following last year’s midseason demotion to the AHL Whale. “I can tell through conversations we’ve had that he’s trying to work at this.
“He had some really good shifts and some struggles, but it’s a game of mistakes — as long you’re not making the same mistakes all the time.”
Of freshman North American pro Tim Erixon, who partnered with Del Zotto, Tortorella said: “He kind of got caught from behind one time and lost [position around] the net, there are a number of things we need to work with him on, but he had a number of good shifts, too.
“We’re going to be patient.”
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Marty Biron allowed three goals on 16 shots in 40 minutes before Chad Johnson stopped all 10 Devils’ shots he faced in the third period. .¤.¤. Derek Stepan snapped one up top short side on Martin Brodeur in the first. Defenseman Brendan Bell got the winner with 3:04 to go in the third on a one-time 45-foot wrist shot off a Bryce Salvador turnover off the boards.
Rangers will cut down today to the 33-player roster (19 forwards, 11 defensemen, three goaltenders) that will embark on the tour to Europe that will begin following Monday’s final North American exhibition match in Philadelphia.