Rangers Deal with Player Injuries
CALGARY — The Rangers have been navigating recent games without Matt Lempe and Vincent Trocheck. Neither player participated in the last four matchups, which included a trip through Canada and Seattle.
Lempe exited Thursday’s game at Madison Square Garden early due to an upper-body injury, and he’s currently undergoing evaluation in New York, according to coach Mike Sullivan. Although there’s a chance Lempe could rejoin the team during the road trip, his exact timeline remains uncertain.
“It’s disappointing to lose him,” Sullivan expressed after Saturday’s practice at the Scotiabank Saddledome. “Remps adds a lot to our team with his energy and passion. He actively supports his teammates. We’ll certainly miss him, but it does create opportunities for others.”
Trocheck, on the other hand, has been on long-term injured reserve but could be eligible to play in Seattle on November 1. However, he hasn’t resumed skating yet, Sullivan mentioned.
“He’s making progress,” Sullivan remarked. “But, he’s not ready just yet. If he comes back, he’s with us. We’ll keep you updated on that.” Trocheck, 32, has missed the last seven games due to an upper-body issue.
Sullivan shifted the Rangers’ lineup again, moving Taylor Radish, who scored a hat trick in the last game, to the first line with Artemi Panarin and JT Miller.
“Taylor has been playing well lately,” Sullivan acknowledged. “His most recent game was notably strong, and performance matters. We’ll reward those who are doing well with more ice time and opportunities.”
Conor Sheary and Alexis Lafreniere will join Mika Zibanejad, while Will Quill, Noah Raba, and Brennan Osman will make up the Rangers’ third unit. The fourth unit features Adam Edström, Sam Carrick, and Juuso Parsinen.
“I think this setup feels more balanced,” Sullivan noted. “It’s tough to manage matchups on the road, but having a balanced attack gives us an edge on both sides of the puck.”
“I genuinely believe we’re developing a more balanced team overall. While we have some offensive threats, we’re also making smarter choices in lineup construction.”
Recently, a Rangers rookie had to get five stitches on the outside and three on the inside of his mouth after taking a puck to the face during a game against Minnesota. Remarkably, he returned shortly after, equipped with a full face shield, and didn’t miss a shift.
