Late in their 4-3 overtime win over the Devils Monday at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers were down two forwards. Matt Beleskey left the game after the first period with a shoulder injury, and Jesper Fast left after the second with an undisclosed injury. That meant jumbled lines and lots of ice time for the remaining 10 forwards on the bench.
Vinni Lettieri found himself skating every other shift, it seemed, playing multiple positions with all kinds of different linemates. And he was tired.
“I was cramping up,’’ he said.
But when coach David Quinn threw Lettieri on the ice near the end of the overtime, Lettieri was in the right place at the right time to deflect Kevin Hayes’ pass behind Devils goalie Eddie Lack.