CHICAGO – In the three games he played before coach David Quinn decided to sit him out, Rangers defenseman Neal Pionk had played well, but he didn’t have any points to show for it. Since he’s come back into the lineup, though, Pionk has been on fire, racking up six assists in the three games before the Rangers’ game against the Blackhawks Thursday night.
So, the natural question to the 23-year-old Thursday morning was, did sitting out those games play some part in what he’s doing on the ice now?
“Yeah,’’ Pionk said. “It’s definitely motivation. No one wants to sit out.