Rangers' Ryan Lindgren returns to lineup
Ryan Lindgren of the Rangers skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 15, 2022. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Ryan Lindgren returned to the lineup Tuesday night after missing 11 games with a left shoulder injury when the Rangers faced the Carolina Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden, in the final game of their five-game homestand. The defenseman made it through the entire game, though he did have one minor scare when he appeared to tweak the shoulder late in the second period as he committed a holding penalty against former Ranger Jesper Fast.
Lindgren grimaced and hunched over as he went to the penalty box, and then left the box and went to the Rangers dressing room. But he was able to return after his penalty expired and returned and played the entire third period. He played 16:13 in the game, took one shot on goal, and was a plus-1.
“He’s going to have little things like that, a little shooting pain or whatever, I don't know,’’ Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said of Lindgren’s scare. “They said not to worry about it, but I worry about it. He was fine.’’
Harpur still helping
Ben Harpur came out of the lineup when Lindgren went back in. Harpur had played in the 11 games Lindgren missed with a shoulder injury, plus a couple before that, when the Blueshirts were playing with seven defensemen while trying to bank cap space to trade for Patrick Kane.
“He did a great job in there,’’ Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said of Harpur. “When you get an opportunity to play like he played, it's really good for the confidence of the coaches, and that's what he's done with us… He's done a good job, and he's earned his ice time, and we're real happy with what he's done.’’
Berard signs
The Rangers announced they have signed forward Brett Berard to a three-year entry level contract that begins in the 2023-24 season. Berard, 20, was a fifth-round draft pick in 2020 and just completed his junior season at Providence College, where he scored 10 goals, with 14 assists in 36 games. He was the second-leading scorer and third-leading goal scorer for the Friars. He reported to AHL Hartford where he will finish the season on an amateur tryout.
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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