DETROIT – Having decided to bring forward Lias Andersson back into the lineup after he sat out Tuesday’s game in Dallas, Rangers coach David Quinn opened a spot in the lineup for Andersson on Thursday by scratching defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk against the Red Wings. Brendan Smith, the veteran defenseman who had been playing as a winger on the fourth line, dropped back to defense to take Shattenkirk’s spot next to Brady Skjei.
It was the second time Shattenkirk has been scratched this season. He was previously scratched in the fourth game of the season.
Quinn said he’d noticed “a little bit of slippage’’ in Shattenkirk’s play of late.