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Rookie center set for first start as Rangers search for answers

Brett Howden has gone from just making the Rangers to now getting a top-six role.

It looks like the rookie center is going to start Thursday’s match against the Sharks at the Garden, between Chris Kreider and Mats Zuccarello, as first-year coach David Quinn continues to search for answers with his 0-3-0 team.

“He’s getting more comfortable for sure,” Quinn said Tuesday of the 20-year-old Howden. “As most first-year players in this league get when they have a little bit of success, there’s a confidence level that grows. Confidence is earned, not given. It’s not like I come to the rink every day and say, ‘I have confidence in Howden today.