BOSTON — The Rangers’ record of injured gamers is a tad longer than they need presently of 12 months, however the accidents have given others who haven’t seen sport motion shortly an opportunity to shake off some rust.
Andrew Copp (lower-body harm) and Filip Chytil (upper-body harm) had been scratched for the 3-1 loss to the Bruins on Saturday after each forwards had been harm within the lopsided win over the Islanders on Thursday. Chytil missed his third sport within the final month as a result of harm, whereas Copp was sidelined for the primary time since becoming a member of the Rangers by way of commerce on March 21.
In changing these two forwards, Julien Gauthier and Greg McKegg drew again into the lineup. Gauthier, who completed with one shot on objective and one hit, had been a wholesome scratch in 17 of the earlier 18 video games. He skated on the precise wing of the third line, alongside Alexis Lafreniere and Barclay Goodrow, in his first sport since April 3.
With one hit over 9:23 , McKegg competed in his first sport since April 1. The 29-year-old ahead joined the fourth unit, lining up on the left wing of Kevin Rooney and Ryan Reaves.
“Each of them haven’t performed shortly, however they’re each NHL gamers, they’re each veteran gamers and in search of the chance to get them in there,” Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant mentioned of Gauthier and McKegg previous to the loss. “I’m certain they’re excited to play. It needs to be enjoyable. They each know their roles and their job. Kegger provides lots of expertise, penalty kill, defensive participant. And Gauthier’s acquired lots of velocity and wheels. Hopefully we see these components at the moment with our group.
“Once you’re lacking gamers and the opposite guys get a possibility, you hope they only hold going and hold profitable hockey video games.”
Kaapo Kakko additionally missed a 3rd straight sport with an undisclosed lower-body harm, whereas Tyler Motte was sidelined for a seventh in a row with a “important” upper-body harm.
“It’s not about resting gamers, it’s about ensuring our gamers are wholesome — and that’s what we’re attempting to do,” Gallant mentioned. “Guys want a while, we’ll give them the time. After all, with a pair minor accidents [Thursday night against the Islanders], completely different guys are going to get an opportunity to play.”
After Chris Kreider arrange Mika Zibanejad for a power-play objective within the third interval, the 2 forwards have now mixed for 41 man-advantage objectives, surpassing Jaromir Jagr and Petr Prucha for probably the most mixed power-play objectives between two Rangers in a single season.
The objective additionally was Zibanejad’s fifteenth power-play objective, tying a profession excessive.
Saturday marked the Rangers’ remaining highway sport of the common season, over which they posted a 25-14-2 away file.
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