PITTSBURGH — The Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, have gone 3-1-1 under new head coach Steve Smith, which has the club sitting in second place in the Atlantic Division with an overall record of 10-4-2.
Since former head coach Kris Knoblauch was picked up by the Oilers on Nov. 12, Smith has remained in an interim position, but the Rangers do not appear to be conducting a search to bring in someone else.
The transition has seemingly been seamless for Smith, who worked as an assistant under Knoblauch the previous two seasons.
This is the 60-year-old’s first head coaching gig at any level.
“No one was really expecting it, I guess, just kind of caught everyone by surprise,” said Connor Mackey, who has been serving as the Rangers’ seventh defenseman in the wake of Adam Fox’s designation to long-term injured reserve. “We had a good start in Hartford. Super happy for [Knoblauch], super nice guy and a really good coach. Good to see him have a good start up there and have some success right away.”
Mackey noted that the rest of the Wolf Pack is already comfortable with Smith, who has 12 seasons as an assistant in the NHL under his belt.
Smith is also a former NHL defenseman with 804 games on his résumé, as well as three Stanley Cups with the Oilers.
In addition to Edmonton, Smith played in Chicago and Calgary.
“It was pretty good,” Mackey said of the changeover. “Him running the D to start, obviously having a relationship with him, so I feel it was a pretty smooth transition. From the short time he’s been head coach, obviously guys respect him, he’s got a heck of a résumé and really knowledgeable. So it’s been pretty smooth so far, I’d say.”
The Penguins nearly tied up Wednesday night’s game, which ended in a 1-0 win for the Rangers, in the first period after goalie Jonathan Quick lost his glove and Penguins call-up Alex Nylander tipped the puck in.
A Rangers challenge for offside, however, swung their way and it was overturned.
“Luckily, there was offside a little bit earlier in the play,” Quick said. “I asked them to look at it in between periods if he thought it would’ve been goalie interference.
“He said because my glove was outside of the crease, even though my feet were inside of the crease, the goal probably would’ve stood. We caught a break there.”
Once again, Fox participated in the Rangers’ morning skate in a red non-contact jersey.
The Rangers’ No. 1 defenseman is eligible to return to the lineup Nov. 29 against the Red Wings.
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