Rangers' Kaapo Kakko returns to lineup after missing 21 games
Kaapo Kakko #24 of the Rangers battles for position during the first period against Trevor van Riemsdyk #57 of the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. Credit: Jim McIsaac
After missing 21 games and nearly seven weeks, forward Kaapo Kakko returned to the Rangers’ lineup Sunday afternoon in their 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden.
“It’s been a long time working out, watching the games,’’ Kakko said. “So it feels good.’’
Kakko suffered what appeared to be a bad injury to his left knee or lower leg in a game against Buffalo on Nov. 27. On the video replay, it looked bad enough to be a season-ending injury, but the Rangers announced the next day that it was not as bad as feared and said he would be back before the season ended.
“It looked bad and felt bad,’’ Kakko said. “So I thought it was going to be way more time off. But it wasn’t that bad, actually. [And] I was of course happy about that. It wasn’t too long.’’
Kakko returned with no restrictions regarding minutes, and coach Peter Laviolette put him back on the top line with center Mika Zibanejad and left wing Chris Kreider.
Kakko started the season in that spot but had been dropped to the third line after 11 games because he and the line had not produced enough goals.
“The line actually had some decent numbers,’’ Laviolette said of the Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko group. “They were producing opportunity, and what was missing was the result. And after a little bit, we ended up changing it, going in some different directions, and then we lost [Kakko]. So it’s nice to get him back and give him an opportunity. And I thought for his first showing back, he played a strong game.’’
Kakko played 16 minutes, 4 seconds, including 2:01 on the power play. He finished with two shots on goal plus another that was blocked and was credited with two hits. And he was pleased with his performance.
“I think it was good . . . I had a couple good chances today,’’ he said. “And maybe next game, I can score also.’’
Said Laviolette, “He protects the puck really well in the offensive zone; he‘s big, he‘s strong, he‘s young, he‘s fast. He’s capable defensively, certainly capable offensively. So you lose a player like that for a bit, you feel it. It‘s always good to get him back out on the ice.’’
Trouba blocks six shots
The Rangers had 23 blocks to the Capitals’ 11. Defenseman Jacob Trouba led the team with six blocks. D Ryan Lindgren and F Nick Bonino each had four . . . F Vincent Trocheck, who had an assist on the Rangers’ first goal, won only 9 of 20 faceoffs. He has been among the league leaders in faceoff winning percentage this season. The Capitals’ Dylan Strome won 19 of 21 faceoffs . . . D Adam Fox had three shots on goal and led the team in ice time with 24:02 . . . The Rangers sent forward Anton Blidh to AHL Hartford after the game.
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.
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