Why Rangers coach finally told Neal Pionk to take a seat

There it was, the dreaded on-ice conversation at the end of practice: Rangers coach David Quinn talking in an animated way, young defenseman Neal Pionk nodding his head in acknowledgment. This is how a player gets notified he is going to be a healthy scratch.

Pionk, 23, has played a lot of difficult minutes for the Blueshirts this season, his second as a professional. But an injury and then a severe dropoff in his play have left Quinn with the obvious choice to keep Pionk in street clothes for Wednesday night’s Garden match against the Bruins.

“Listen, we’ve asked him to do an awful lot,” Quinn said after Tuesday’s practice in Tarrytown. “He’s played against everybody’s top players, and he’s done a really good job. The injury kind of slowed him down a little bit. I think he’s lost a little bit of his confidence. Might be good to give him a night off, get him back to feeling good about himself. Work on some things we have to address to get him back to playing the way he was.”

Pionk spent the better part of the first half of the season on the right side of the top pair, next to Marc Staal. He was getting big minutes in every situation, including both special teams. He was showing flashes of offensive instincts to go along with his terrific skating ability (Who can forget that 200-foot rush and game-winner against the Canadiens on Nov. 6?) as well as a solidified performance in his own zone.

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But then he blocked a shot in a game just after Christmas and suffered a lower-body injury. It was not bad enough to force Pionk to the sideline and he didn’t allow the pain to force him out of the lineup.

That is when Pionk started playing without his usual vigor and confidence. He played eight games from Dec. 27-Jan. 10 before finally needing to sit out Jan. 12 against the Islanders.

“I think during the stretch when he was sucking it up and playing through a tough injury — give him a lot of credit, that’s how tough he is — I thought he lost a little bit of his confidence and swagger through that process,” Quinn said. “We have to help him get it back. And, I like the way the other guys are playing.”

Pionk missed three of four games going into the 10-day break, which encompassed the bye week and the All-Star Game. Since the Rangers’ return to action, Quinn has decided to dress seven defensemen in two of the four games, including the last-minute 4-3 overtime loss to the Kings on Monday night.

That game was a struggle for Pionk, who essentially was the roaming defenseman as Tony DeAngelo took most of the even-strength turns next to Staal. The worst moment came when Pionk iced the puck without any pressure near him, and on the ensuing defensive-zone draw couldn’t stay with Anze Kopitar (understandable), who tied the game, 2-2, with a lifted backhand in front.

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“He just looks indecisive,” Quinn said. “Usually he’s a guy that, when he’s moving his feet, he makes great decisions, he’s decisive in the defensive zone. He just looks unsure of himself. When he’s on his game, he’s very decisive. He does things fast, he competes, and he moves pucks quickly. He’s just a half-fraction off in these decisions.”

Rest assured, the Rangers have not lost faith in the free-agent signee out of Minnesota-Duluth. They are just as confident as he is concerning his ability.

But sometimes a step back can do a bit of good, and that is what the Blueshirts are hoping with this little bump in the road for Pionk.

“We’ve touched on this with these young players — there are going to be peaks and valleys,” Quinn said. “They are going to have some down times, and he is going through a little bit of one right now.”