Day: January 23, 2017

Rangers Head Coach Alain Vigneault appears to have communicated that Marc Staal is cleared to practice, and wlll join the team on Wednesday.  Staal has been out with a suspected concussion as he – and the team – have taken a cautious approach to his return.

Staal has missed seven games so far and will also miss tonight’s match-up against the visiting Los Angeles Kings, having seemingly suffered the injury in the 4-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on January 3rd.  The Rangers have gone 4-3-0 in the time since Staal was injured, giving up 24 goals against – 3.42 goals against – including yesterday’s 1-0 OT win over the Red Wings.

Following a dominating shift against the Detroit Red Wings, Rangers forward Kevin Hayes skated to the bench with what appeared to be some sort of moderate leg or perhaps groin problem.  The third year pro did not return to the ice for the third period.  No news was provided for the injury, though Head Coach Alain Vigneault did mention that Hayes would be checked out today.

An MRI this morning has revealed an injury that will deprive the Rangers of one of their better performing forwards for the next 2-3 weeks.  The injury continues a string of setbacks that have kept the Rangers from icing a healthy set of top six forwards for much of the season.  Matt Puempel, himself coming back from a concussion, is likely to replace Hayes in the line-up, having been cleared over the weekend for a return.