The Rangers' Brendan Smith, right, is pulled out of a scrum during the first period of the team's NHL game against the Islanders on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Credit: AP/Bruce Bennett
When they needed him to play the wing last season, Brendan Smith was not bad at it, albeit in a fourth-line position. And when they needed him to return to defense full time, after Brady Skjei was dealt away at the trade deadline, Smith was fine in that role, too.
And when coach David Quinn inserted him to the lineup Saturday, replacing Tony DeAngelo for what was supposed to be a short-term stint, Smith played so well that Quinn couldn’t take him out of the lineup for Tuesday's Devils game.