It has gotten to the point at which Tanner Glass coming out of the Rangers’ lineup is close to a non-starter.
The physical fourth-line wing is entering his time of year. When the bodies start flying, gloves get in faces and pushing and shoving become paramount to establishing a precedent against an opponent — all while the referees swallow their whistles — Glass becomes indispensable.
“I think I’m important all the time,” he said to The Post with a half-kidding smile after Friday’s practice, his team preparing to go to Montreal to take on the sinking Canadiens on Saturday night.