Rangers' Filip Chytil makes surprise return to lineup for Game 3 vs. Hurricanes
Filip Chytil #72 of the Rangers shoots the puck against Pyotr Kochetkov #52 of the Carolina Hurricanes as he is challenged by Brady Skjei #76 during the third period in Game 3 of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 09, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Credit: Getty Images/Bruce Bennett
RALEIGH, N.C. — Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour, his team down 0-games-to-2 in their second-round playoff series against the Rangers heading into Game 3 Thursday night in PNC Arena, played the biggest card he had, changing his starting goaltender, replacing Frederik Andersen with Pyotr Kochetkov to try and turn things around.
But Rangers coach Peter Laviolette had a big card to play, too.
He inserted Filip Chytil to the lineup.
And while Chytil didn’t figure in the result, his insertion to the lineup after he’d missed the final 72 games of the regular season with what surely was a concussion — even if the Rangers never confirmed that — was a move that certainly helped lift the Rangers, who ended up beating Carolina 3-2 on Artemi Panarin’s goal at 1:43 of overtime, and took a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Chytil, who in late January was ruled out for the remainder of the season, returned to the team four weeks ago, cleared to practice fully. He’s been practicing, full-contact, since April 12, and Laviolette chose Thursday to put him back in.
“This year was so hard,’’ a smiling Chytil said after the game. “It was up and down. In one moment — I don't even know, it's just one day, it just come to my mind and yeah, I just decided, and the whole team decided (I would return). And I'm happy they let me in to practice with them.’’
Chytil, who is believed to have had several concussions over the last couple years, said he had the “full support of my family, and my girlfriend most. And I’m here right now.’’
“He's been working really hard,’’ Laviolette said. “I thought the medical staff and training staff and even the coaches, skills coach, and assistant coaches, did an unbelievable job over the last month ramping him off for a possible re-entry. And he's been attacking every day to get to that point, where we all came to agreement that that time was now.’’
Laviolette said after the team had gone double overtime to win Tuesday’s game at Madison Square Garden, and then had to travel to Raleigh for Games 3 and 4, the team needed to have a full bench, and so it made sense to bring Chytil back now.
Chytil played a total of 12 minutes and two seconds, had five shot attempts — one on goal — and was credited with two hits, plus one hit taken.
“I feel great,’’ he said afterward. “I feel unbelievable. And it's the adrenaline that I needed in last six months. I didn't have that.’’
He said he wasn’t nervous before the game, just excited to be back with his teammates in the locker room. And, even playing on the road in Carolina, he said he enjoyed the experience.
“I was enjoying everything,’’ he said. “So, yeah, it was a great day. And an unbelievable win for us.’’
Chytil even enjoyed hitting, and getting hit, he said.
“It was amazing,’’ he said. “It was so good. I’ve never felt better that somebody hit me, or I hit anybody. I even get the stick to the face once, and I was like, 'Yeah Give me more.' I was so happy.
“Even when it’s painful, it was feeling good.’’
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
