In a week that began with the banishment of defenseman Tony DeAngelo following his reported fight with goaltender Alexandar Georgiev after a 5-4 overtime loss to Pittsburgh Jan. 30, the Rangers may have found a little stability in its third pair defense.
Island Park native Anthony Bitetto stepped into the lineup Monday against Pittsburgh in DeAngelo’s place. Libor Hajek, on his 23rd birthday, entered the lineup Thursday against Washington, replacing Brendan Smith, who was injured in Monday’s game. Both played well, and Bitetto scored his first goal as a Ranger and first in more than three years in Thursday’s 4-2 win.