Alexis Lafreniere of the Rangers looks on against the Capitals during the...

Alexis Lafreniere of the Rangers looks on against the Capitals during the second period at Capital One Arena on Feb. 20, 2021 in Washington. Credit: Getty Images/Patrick Smith

Alexis Lafreniere got only 7 minutes and 53 seconds of ice time, about half of his season average of 14:44, in the Rangers’ 3-1 victory over the Capitals on Saturday night.

"It’s probably mismanagement of the bench and not realizing the situation,’’ acting coach Kris Knoblauch said. "I know we had a lot of ‘D’ zone faceoffs. And also, matchups against their team, where they had the last chance. And I did want to keep him away from their top line. But other than that, I wish I would have played him more . . . Unfortunately, he missed out on some shifts.’’ 

Johnson out for season

Defenseman Jack Johnson underwent surgery Friday to repair a core muscle, the Rangers said. He is finished for the season.

A free-agent import who signed a one-year, $1.15 million deal with the Rangers to provide veteran depth on the back line, Johnson finished the season with 13 games played, one goal, eight penalty minutes and a minus-5 rating.

He played the first four games of the season, was scratched for a game, came back in for a game and then sat out the next eight games with a groin injury.

But injuries to K’Andre Miller and Jacob Trouba, and later Anthony Bitetto, forced Johnson to step back in the lineup even though he was never fully healthy himself.

Coach David Quinn called the 34-year-old "a warrior’’ for playing through his injury.

Shesterkin still out

Igor Shesterkin skated in the morning but missed his ninth straight game with a groin injury suffered March 4 against the Devils. Long Island native Keith Kinkaid was the starter in net Saturday against the Capitals.

Knoblauch said Thursday before the Rangers left for Washington that Shesterkin was a possibility to play Saturday.

Blue notes

Except for the starter in net, the Rangers stayed with the same lineup as Friday. That meant right wing Julien Gauthier was scratched for the third straight game. He has not played since taking three high-sticking penalties in the 5-4 overtime loss to Philadelphia on Monday . . . Trouba played in his 500th NHL game on Saturday, one night after defenseman Brendan Smith played in his 500th.

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