Rangers drill scoring into their heads at practice

MONTREAL — The Rangers conducted a relatively short practice that focused on scoring and shooting drills Friday afternoon.

Limited to just one goal over their last three losses, the Blueshirts practiced two-on-one rushes and the shootout in a fun and light-hearted on-ice session.

They also played a game of Knockout, a puck-protection drill where each player starts with a puck and skates around a designated area trying to protect their own puck while also using their stick to knock others out of play.

Asked if he was trying to keep the mood light, coach Mike Sullivan agreed while pointing to the practice’s emphasis on scoring.

“That was part of the thought process going into the design of the practice today, but all the drills were designed to, you know, give these guys an opportunity to score some goals and to shoot,” Sullivan said after practice at CN Sports Complex in Brossard, Quebec, on Friday. “I think our spirit is where it needs to be. I just believe we have a lot of high character guys in there. And, you know, players know when they get off the ice, you know how the games go. I don’t want to put words into their mouth, but I think they feel good about the team game that we’re building.

“I think our record could be better than what it is, and we’ve had those discussions over the last few games, but it’s still early in the season. We just got to keep continuing to try to build our team game.”

The Rangers skated in the same lines they deployed Thursday in Toronto, but the defense rotated. Defenseman Carson Soucy, who is working his way back from an upper-body injury, is still wearing a red non-contact jersey.

Scott Morrow is also still with the Rangers as an extra defensemen.

Will Borgen took a maintenance day Friday while the rest of the Rangers practiced. Despite his not skating, Sullivan said he anticipated Borgen being ready to play Saturday against the Canadiens.

Connor Mackey was assigned to Hartford on Friday ahead of the Wolf Pack’s home opener against the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins.