It was impossible to ignore the fact that Brennan Osman was still searching for his first point 14 games into an NHL career.
For a player who has never had any real problems with scoring, it was, of course, sometimes deep inside his mind.
His Rangers teammate jokingly said, “It's your first good night.”
Ottomann couldn't notch that first point on an 11-game run in the Rangers lineup, but it's over as he served as a healthy wound to the flames on Tuesday night, but the 22-year-old rookie is trying to focus on what's really important.
“For me, I'm at a high standard. I'm disappointed that I couldn't produce much,” Osman said after his first bag skating with the Rangers extras since it was recalled on February 24th.
“At the end of the day, that's not what I'm about right now. It's about building the rabbis' trust and building the trust of the coaching staff. I'm in the lineup every day and trying to make it into the lineup every day. My biggest thing.
“What I want to do more is having more pucks on the stick and being more confident. When I have pucks, I play well with it and find an open lane and an open guy and get the puck in the net.
After a three-game cameo last season, Ottoman was dressed for all six preseason games, one of the final cuts of training camp.
He then only dropped three games in the AHL season with an upper body injury that sidelined him until Christmas.
Ottoman, who debuted season with the Islanders on February 25th, appeared on both the third and fourth lines, but mainly skated in the latter.
Othmann is considered a top six skater, but he averaged 9:23 ice time, almost next to Jonny Brodzinski and Matt Rempe in the fourth line.
“He did some good things for us, his line did some good things,” Coach Peter Laviolet said. “You're going back to the Islander game. I thought they had a really effective game offensively. There was a few more to look for from him. Show him and work with him on both the offensive side of the pack and the defensive side of the pack.
“I wanted the opportunity to bring the younger players back there. [Juuso] Persinen. You'll think it's an opportunity for Osman to reset, restart, and wait for the next opportunity. ”
Pärssinen returns to the Rangers lineup after seeing the final five games from the press box and slots into the right wing spot next to Sam Carrick and Criss Rider.
It hit Brett Berard on Osman's regular post in the fourth unit alongside Brozinski and Lempe.
There have been a lot of moves in the lower six of the Rangers lineup, but Ottoman's next chance could be right there.
“I feel like I'm playing well,” Osman said. “It feels like I'm transitioning the game pretty well from Hartford's down here. I'm happy with that. I'm happy with how I play. Obviously there are areas I want to improve at all times. Even when I'm playing consistently, I always want to be better. There are a few things I want to wipe out.”
