Tanner Glass thrives on fourth line for Rangers in Game 4

NEW YORK -- New York Rangers left wing Tanner Glass believes the Stanley Cup Playoffs suit his style of play for reasons only those in his corner can truly understand.
"This is a fun time of the year because there's not as much time and space out there," Glass said. "Sometimes I'm better when there's no time and space."
Glass had two assists for his first multipoint NHL playoff game in a 4-1 victory against the Ottawa Senators in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.

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The Rangers tied the best-of-7 series 2-2. Game 5 is at Ottawa on Saturday (3 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports).
Glass, 33, isn't a prolific point-producer or a gifted playmaker. He plays a simple game, one that includes closing in on the forecheck, getting to an opponent and then separating him from the puck.
"Playoffs are a war of attrition and every bump counts," he said. "It's like making deposits in the bank. You put enough in and one day you're going to be happy with what's in there, and then you can take it out."

Glass had a game-high seven hits and fought Ottawa center Kyle Turris in the third period before skating off the ice to a standing ovation with 26 seconds remaining.
"I know my game is not one that's easy to like at times, but people who know hockey and my teammates and coaches have supported me," said Glass, who had a goal and an assist in 11 regular-season games for New York. "This night might take a while to sink in, I'm sure, but we haven't done anything yet. We're 2-2 in a second-round series and our plan is to win the Stanley Cup.
"We're 10 wins away from that."
Now in his 10th NHL season, third with the Rangers, Glass entered the 2017 playoffs with two points (one goal, one assist) in 60 career NHL postseason games. He has four points (one goal, three assists) in five games this spring.
"I'll enjoy it while it lasts," he said.
Rangers coach Alain Vigneault has enjoyed it because he knows exactly the type of game he'll get from Glass when he inserts him in the lineup.
"Tanner is just playing disciplined, smart hockey, and that's what he needs to do," Vigneault said.

After being a healthy scratch for five games, Glass replaced Pavel Buchnevich in the lineup for Game 3, and he's provided just the spark Vigneault envisioned, helping New York to back-to-back home wins playing on the fourth line with Oscar Lindberg and J.T. Miller.
"It's big that [Vigneault] has that confidence in me," Glass said. "I'm not going to go make a highlight-reel play to score a big goal, but I'm going to get the puck out when it's on the wall every time. If a defenseman comes down the wall, I'm going to put a lick on that D-man every time. If you know what to expect, I think it's a little easier to trust."
Vigneault actually had Glass start the game on a line with Derek Stepan and Rick Nash.
"I read the starting lineup and saw [Stepan] and Nash were in and I was on left wing, and I said, 'Ohhh,'" Glass said. "It's not something you expect but something that's nice. I know the message is pretty clear on what [Vigneault] wants out of me; he wants me to be physical."
It's also what will be expected from Glass in Game 5.
"If you mess with the bull, you get the horns," Glass said.