Rangers' Ryan Lindgren leaves with left leg injury in second period, unable to return
Ryan Lindgren of the New York Rangers lays on the ice after an injury in the second period against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren gets banged up a lot but usually can gut out an injury and play through the pain. But when he went down late in the second period Sunday, the prospects of him returning soon didn’t look particularly good.
Lindgren was injured when he was checked into the end boards by Islanders forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who seemed to crash into Lindgren’s left knee, which appeared to buckle awkwardly. Lindgren lay on the ice for a few moments before being helped to the dressing room with 4:21 left in the period. He was unable to put any pressure on his left leg.
“He’s lower body, getting evaluated right now’’ was all Rangers coach Peter Laviolette had to offer on Lindgren, who is the steady defense partner on the top pair with Adam Fox.
Lindgren’s injury comes at a time when the Rangers already are without Jacob Trouba, who has missed the last six games with a lower-body injury that general manager Chris Drury said on March 8 would keep him out two to three weeks.
Rempe serves suspension
Young enforcer Matt Rempe served the fourth and final game of his suspension for elbowing Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler last Monday. He is eligible to return Tuesday when the Rangers host Winnipeg.
Cizikas: 800th game
Islanders center Casey Cizikas logged 12:49 of ice time and lost six of seven faceoffs in his 800th NHL game . . . Goalie Ilya Sorokin had good looks at at least three of the Rangers’ goals, but coach Patrick Roy had no problem with his 26-save performance. “I thought he was good,” Roy said. “The goals that he gave up, I don’t know if he could done [anything differently]. They’re all big saves.” . . . The Rangers are 11-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. The Islanders are 0-5-3 . . . Rangers rookie Will Cuylle had a game-high eight hits in 10:09 of ice time.
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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