Rangers rookie defenseman Victor Mancini likely odd man out when Ryan Lindgren returns

DETROIT – Injured defenseman Ryan Lindgren has been practicing fully with the Rangers for a few days now, and though coach Peter Laviolette said again at Thursday’s morning skate that nothing has changed with regard to his status, it’s clear that Lindgren’s return to the lineup is not far away.

Which means the clock has started ticking on how much more time rookie Victor Mancini figures to be with the club.

Mancini, 22, whose dad, Bob, is from Seaford, had a sensational training camp and preseason, and forced his way onto the roster after Lindgren was placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. He played in each of the first three games, averaging 15 minutes and 12 seconds on ice, with seven shots on goal and a plus-1 rating. He even scored a goal in the second game of the season, against Utah, but it was disallowed when the referees ruled that Matt Rempe was in the goal crease and interfered with the Utah goaltender.

“Obviously, you're very excited when you score, and (there’s) a bit of a disappointment to see it taken away,’’ Mancini said Thursday. “But I know I'm doing the right things, right? It was a good shot, I put myself in a good spot on the ice, so I'm not worried about when the first (NHL goal) will come. Just keep doing the right things on the ice.’’

“He's played well,’’ Laviolette said of Mancini, who was in the lineup again Thursday, when the Rangers played the Red Wings in the back end of a home-and-home, and the start of a three-game road trip. “He uses his size. He's a big guy out there that can find escape ability on exits out of the ‘D’ zone. He makes a good first pass. He's added to the offense for us.’’

“He's a really good player,’’ said Zac Jones, who has been Mancini’s defense partner. “I don't know exactly how to tall he is (he’s officially 6-3, 229), but… he moves so well for being that big. And he's hard, defensively. He's hard to play against. He's got an offensive touch to him. He's gonna be a really, really good player.’’

When Lindgren returns to the lineup, though, Mancini will most likely will be sent down to AHL Hartford. The Rangers wouldn’t want him on the roster if he’s not playing regularly. Better he go to Hartford and be the No. 1 defenseman there.

“I try not to think about it,’’ Mancini said of Lindgren’s impending return and what it may mean for him. “I'm more just kind of worried about myself right now and my game. Being a rookie, and being three games in, I really want to focus on how I prepare each day at the rink, and when I go out to play the game, how I play the game.’’

If Thursday was to be his last game before getting sent down, at least he got to play in his hometown NHL arena – he grew up in Saginaw, Mich., where his dad once coached the OHL team there – with his mom and lots of family and friends in attendance. Unfortunately, his dad, who works for USA Hockey in Colorado Springs, couldn’t make it.

When asked to reflect on his time in the NHL, the first thing he says is, “it’s pretty fun.’’

“I've said that a lot, but it's just a good word to sum things up,’’ he said. “I've really just been enjoying here, you know, all the experiences, trying to learn as I go, and just being able to play the game. And playing the game with a team like this has been pretty special, so I've been very appreciative, been happy, with where my game is and trying to learn as I go on, as well.’’

Blue notes

Goalie Jonathan Quick was set to make his first start of the season. “He's been practicing hard every day,’’ Laviolette said of Quick. “Veteran, experienced goaltender. When he was called upon last year, he came out and gave us great games.’’ … Other than Quick, Laviolette made no changes to the lineup that beat Detroit, 4-1, on Monday, meaning forward Matt Rempe was scratched for the second straight game and for the third time in four games . . . D Chad Ruhwedel was the other scratch.

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.