A tough situation just got a little more difficult, with news that rookie defenseman K’Andre Miller has been placed into the NHL’s COVID protocol ahead of tonight’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Since these same two teams hit the ice just six days ago, the Rangers have lost Jacob Trouba (thumb), Kaapo Kakko (COVID), Artemi Panarin (personal leave) and now Miller.
Given the dynamics of this season, there was always a distinct possibility of things getting bad. The Flyers, Devils, Sabres and Capitals have all lost a number of players to the NHL’s COVID protocols, and have managed to deal with it to varying degrees of success.
The biggest absence of course is Panarin, who really leads the Rangers attack. With no timetable for his return following unsupported accusations by his former coach in the KHL, it remains to be seen whether this will be a long absence or not.
On the positive side, Chris Kreider, Alexis Lafreniere, Pavel Buchnevich and Mika Zibanejad all broke goalless streaks of various lengths over the last couple of days, and if this is indeed a sign that they are starting to find their respective games, then perhaps the damage will be less severe.
Defensively, the Rangers will playing to what amounts to their 7th, 8th and 9th defensemen with Tony DeAngelo banished to the sidelines, and Trouba and now Miller both out of action.
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