Rangers' Ryan Lindgren grateful for time off, on track to return from injury against Avalanche
New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren, front, passes the puck in front of Los Angeles Kings right wing Quinton Byfield (55) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. Credit: AP/Jayne Kamin-Oncea
GREENBURGH — The NHL All-Star break and bye week seemed to come at a good time for the Rangers, who had been stuck in neutral for about eight weeks and were looking for something to snap them out of it.
They hope that when the season restarts on Monday night at the Garden against the Colorado Avalanche, they’ll look more like the team that went 18-4-1 in the first 23 games than the team that went 12-12-2 in the last 26.
There’s no doubt that the week off came at the perfect time for defenseman Ryan Lindgren, given that he missed the final game before the break with an upper-body injury. Lindgren was a full participant when the Rangers returned to practice on Sunday, working on the left of his regular defense partner, Adam Fox.
“He's ready to go,’’ coach Peter Laviolette said.
Lindgren was forced out of the 5-2 loss to Vegas on Jan. 26 midway through the first period after he was hit into the end boards by Vegas forward Keegan Kolesar. He missed the Rangers' 7-2 win over Ottawa the following night, but that ended up being the only game he'll miss.
“I had some days to heal and rest up and I’m feeling good now,’’ Lindgren said. “I got a lot of treatment, and . . . I guess it came at a good time.’’
Lindgren said he doesn’t know how long he would have been out if the Rangers had not had the week off, but Laviolette said the team knew the injury wasn’t going to be a long-term thing. Lindgren was able to get some treatment, go home to Minneapolis for a few days and come back healthy enough to play Monday.
Getting him back was especially important because the Rangers will be without captain Jacob Trouba for a second straight game as the rugged defenseman sits out his two-game suspension for a hit on Vegas forward Pavel Dorofeyev. Seventh defenseman Zac Jones, who had a goal and an assist and was a team-high plus-4 against Ottawa, will stay in the lineup in place of Trouba.
Before he got hurt, Lindgren and Fox had been split up against Vegas, with Fox partnering with Erik Gustafsson and Lindgren with Braden Schneider. With Trouba unavailable Monday, Schneider practiced Sunday with Trouba’s usual partner, K’Andre Miller. Lindgren and Fox were back together and Gustafsson worked with Jones.
“With Jacob out right now, the [defense] pairs are moving a little bit,’’ Laviolette said. “Our guys are adjustable and adaptable, and I don't think it's a big thing who they play with . . . Gustafsson and Jones were really good last game in Ottawa. They were outstanding.’’
Blue lines
The Rangers had 21 players, including both All-Stars, goaltender Igor Shesterkin and center Vincent Trocheck, at practice Sunday. Trouba skated as the seventh defenseman. After practice, forward Jake Leschyshyn and D Connor Mackey were recalled from AHL Hartford.
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.
