Brendan Lemieux couldn’t talk his way into the lineup for Thursday’s game against the Islanders. But once he did get back in, making his return from a nine-game absence with a broken left hand, Lemieux played his way onto the top line.
The rugged winger played all of the third period with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, taking the spot of Pavel Buchnevich for the Rangers’ last-minute 2-1 loss to the Blue Jackets on Sunday night at the Garden.
“I don’t put too much weight on when I walk in here what the lineup sheet looks like,” Lemieux said.