David Quinn's call to go with Colin Blackwell in overtime pays off

Rangers coach David Quinn got a little testy when asked why he decided to send Colin Blackwell, who a week ago was on the Rangers’ taxi squad, out for an overtime shift with rookies Alexis Lafreniere and K’Andre Miller on Thursday night in Buffalo.

"We’ve got four goals in the two previous games, and [Blackwell] was a guy that created two of them,’’ Quinn said. "And he had a good night tonight. You know, you’ve got to let the eye test determine who plays hockey — not where they were drafted, not their resume.

"We needed a win tonight, and this kid deserves to be out there. That’s why he was out there.’’

Blackwell stole the puck in the neutral zone and set up Lafreniere for the game-winner at 2:47 of overtime. Lafreniere’s first goal gave the Rangers a 3-2 victory.

"You know, he’s got seven points his last seven NHL games,’’ Quinn said of Blackwell. "What can happen in this game is we get so caught up in where people are drafted and . . . the hype about people. But I don’t [care] about that right now. We want to win hockey games and he was the best option.

"How’d it work out?’’

Blue notes

Center Ryan Strome appeared to wince after taking a hit late in the third period and did not play in the overtime. "We think he’ll be fine,’’ Quinn said. "Just a little lower-body injury. But I thought Stromer really stepped up. He played his best game of the year.’’ . . . Defenseman Jack Johnson was scratched from the lineup because of a groin strain, the Rangers said. Brendan Smith took his spot . . . Right wing Julien Gauthier was the forward scratched, but Quinn again promised, "We will see Julien soon.’’

By Colin Stephenson

colin.stephenson@newsday.comColinSNewsday

Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.