So, what did the Rangers tell Neal Pionk when they informed him he would be scratched from the lineup Thursday against the San Jose Sharks?
“I’ve simply got to play better,’’ Pionk said at the morning skate Thursday. “If I want to be playing the minutes that they’re giving me, we’ve got to win some games. So when the team starts 0-3, something’s got to change and that’s what they thought was best.’’
Pionk, fellow defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and forward Cody McLeod were the scratches Thursday as the Rangers returned to a 12-forward, six-defenseman lineup, and coach David Quinn got defenseman Freddie Claesson into his first game of the season.