Just nine games remain for the New York Rangers in 2017-2018 and they will be without their franchise goaltender Thursday night.
- New York Rangers (32-33-8, 72 points)
- Philadelphia Flyers (37-25-12, 86 points)
- Television: MSG Networks
- Venue: Wells Fargo Center
New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist has played in just one of the last four games. He will be out yet again against Philadelphia Thursday.
UPDATE: Lundqvist (back/neck) and Staal (illness) are not practicing today. #NYR
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 21, 2018
Lundqvist was in a collision with teammate John Gilmour and Blue Jacket’s forward Matt Calvert. Luckily for the Rangers, Lundqvist remained in the game, but the Rangers still fell to Columbus 5-3.
His health did not carry into in practice Wednesday afternoon as Lundqvist was absent from the ice. The team is calling it a back and neck injury, but it could have been much worse.
Lundqvist will not be available when the Rangers play in Philadelphia as rookie Alexandar Georgiev will get the start in goal. Backing up Georgiev will be Ondrej Pavelec who will be dressing for the first time since Feb. 9th after he left a game due to injury. Pavelec wasn’t expected to dress for the remainder of the season, but the circumstances have changed and he finds himself back in the lineup.
Small Line Change
Also, line shuffle: Namestnikov on LW, with Hayes and Zuccarello; Spooner at center, between Vesey and Buchnevich. Zibanejad line stays as is.
— Colin Stephenson (@ColinASteph) March 21, 2018
Head coach Alain Vigneault made a small line tweak in practice Wednesday. Vladislav Namestnikov has been swapped with Ryan Spooner as Vigneault wants to get a look at what he has in the two players.
Namestnikov and Spooner are versatile players that have played both the center and wing in their careers. Since coming to the Rangers, Spooner has primarily played on the wing and Namestnikov has been at the center ice position.
Other Rangers News
- ESNY’s Frank Curto looks at what Jimmy Vesey has to do to be a Ranger in 2018-19.
- I look at the play of Chris Kreider since his return from injury.
- Blueshirt Banter’s Mike Murphy looks at the forgotten piece from the Rangers trades this season.
