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Alain Vigneault doesn’t lack for humor ahead of Game 4 – Metro US

Alain Vigneault doesn’t lack for humor ahead of Game 4

Alain Vigneault Alain Vigneault brings a much different personality than John Tortorella.
Credit: Getty Images

Never let it be said Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault lacks a sense of humor.

As his Wednesday morning press conference at the Garden wrapped up, Vigneault joked he “had my Netflix imitation for you guys today. Nobody asked,” causing the assembled media contingent to laugh. Vigneault was referring to the commercial featuring a hockey coach rallying his team talking about “that scene from that movie on Netflix.”

Collectively, the Rangers were far more upbeat Wednesday than the one which congregated at their home rink 24 hours prior.

“[I’m] not sure what you [media] guys expected, but I think our overall mood was the one that was expected and appropriate,” Vigneault said. “I didn’t think anybody would be [turning] cartwheels yesterday. We’re back at work. We had a good meeting this morning, [and] we’re getting ready for a good hockey game.”

In order for the Rangers to drag the Stanley Cup Final back to Los Angeles for Game 5 Friday, they simply have to win Game 4. When pressed for the bigger perspective, Carl Hagelin stressed scoring and will.

“That’s what they’ve done in this series,” Hagelin said following the morning skate. “It’s been close and they find a way to get a big goal. It’s time for us to do that tonight, maybe right before a period [ends] or maybe an overtime goal.

“We’ve got to want it more than them. They obviously have a good opportunity to win it all now, so we’ve got to make sure we come out there and work as hard as we can and execute hard.”

Limiting turnovers would also be ideal. Through the first three games of the Stanley Cup Final, the Rangers have been charged with 36 giveaways compared to 13 takeaways.

“They come hard. They’ve been on us hard last game, as they did the first two games. We knew that all along. It’s just a matter of us executing,” Hagelin said. “It’s important that all five guys are in the picture so we can make short passes.”

Doughty tempts history

Drew Doughty is on the cusp of authoring an impressive bit of history entering Game 4.

The Kings’ cornerstone defenseman was one win away from having earned an Olympic gold medal and a Stanley Cup championship in the same calendar year. They would each be his second.

So, he’s clearly thinking about what could be, right?

“You always think it’s possible but you don’t think it’s going to happen,” Doughty said. “[It’s] so hard to win both trophies, and I still haven’t won the second one yet, even though I’m hoping we do that. It’ll be great to have both of those, but for right now I’m thinking about one period at a time, and wait for [the] puck drop.”

Doughty had his parents, his billet parents and his girlfriend at the Garden for Game 4.

Rangers note …

Prior to the game, the Rangers announced they agreed to terms with free agent defenseman Petr Zamorsky. The 21-year-old played in 44 games with HC Zlin in the Czechoslovakian League, finishing with 18 points and 80 penalty minutes.

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.