Welcome back, Capo Cuckoo.
Rangers guard Jimmy Vesey was ruled out Friday with an upper-body injury, and Kako missed Game 2 for medical reasons but returned to the lineup for Game 3 against the Panthers on Sunday afternoon.
Blake Wheeler was another option but has been sidelined. Wheeler hasn’t played since suffering a lower-body injury on Feb. 15.
The 23-year-old Kako recorded 19 points in 61 regular season games before picking up two points in 11 playoff games.
Caco warmed up on the third line with Jack Roslovic to the right of centre Alex Wennberg, with Will Caille demoted to the fourth line.
The Rangers and Panthers are tied at 1-1 in their Eastern Conference finals series on Friday after Barclay Goodrow’s overtime goal gave the Blueshirts the win.
