LAS VEGAS — Jimmy Vesey drew back into the Rangers lineup Saturday night against the Golden Knights, after the 31-year-old was a healthy scratch in the previous game.
It was far from the first time Vesey watched from the press box this season, but it was the first time in eight games.
“Just take it day by day,” Vesey told The Post after the Rangers morning skate. “Work hard. I think I’ve had good moments in the year. More good moments than bad. It’s just the way it is with how many bodies we have here and lineup decisions and stuff like that. Just show up every day and work hard.
“Nobody wants to be scratched. It sort of takes you out of the feeling of being part of it. It’s good to be here on the road with the guys, but definitely want to be playing.”
The second-time Ranger, after he signed as a free agent out of Harvard and spent the first three seasons of his NHL career in New York, said he knows the reality of where he is in the lineup.
After missing the first 10 games of the season with a lower-body injury, Vesey has been a healthy scratch six times.
“It’s tough, I mean, I’ve talked to him,” head coach Peter Laviolette said. “It’s hard telling guys they’re in and out of the lineup. He can play on any given night. It goes back to what I said, you have 13/14/15 forwards up here and 12 spots. Just makes it difficult.
“He’s a good player. He’s been a valuable player for us when he’s in the lineup. You make decisions sometimes based on personnel, based on who you’re playing, based on what you might need inside of that game. Could be a position like center, could be a penalty killer, could be a power-play guy, could be somebody that you think means a little more defense or means a little more offense. Jimmy’s been good. He works hard every day. He’s a pro.”
Filip Chytil was scratched with an upper-body injury for the second straight game.
Both the Czech center and Chris Kreider, who is on injured reserve with his own upper-body injury, participated in the morning skate at T-Mobile Arena.
Kreider is eligible to return Tuesday, when the Rangers face the Avalanche in Denver.
Center Bo Groulx was recalled for AHL Hartford and will accompany the Rangers on this road trip.
“With Fil not being available tonight, just to have another center on the road trip,” Laviolette said of the reasoning for the recall. “Just to make sure that we’re covered while we’re on the west coast and wanted to make sure we had depth at center.”
