DENVER — The Rangers returned to full strength Tuesday night in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Avalanche at Ball Arena.
Chris Kreider returned to the lineup after coming off injured reserve, while Filip Sitil also returned after missing the past two games with an unspecified upper-body injury.
“They come into the game at a pretty fast pace,” head coach Peter Laviolette said of Kreider and Sitil, who skated alongside Artur Kaliyev in the loss. “I thought they came in and gave us some good minutes. They want to build up from here, but the players have played a fair number of games and had no practice time. It's good to have them back.”
Chytil has been plagued by injuries and forced an unparalleled level of patience during his eight years in the NHL.
He was on the ice five days after last season ended, but said he missed 72 of 82 regular-season games (possibly due to his fourth concussion) and played in only 6 of 16 games. Ta. playoff contest.
Patience is often said to be a virtue, and Sithil, 25, has held himself to the highest standards while dealing with a recent unexplained upper-body injury.
“It's tough,” he said. “It's difficult because I want to be out every game. It's very frustrating to watch my team play. …I learned a lot last year, I went through a lot last year, so it helps me mentally. My head is only getting stronger now that this hurdle is happening.”
Sitil said what is bothering him has nothing to do with the concussion, pointing out that it is “more complicated than that.”
Chytil had missed the past two games after playing just over nine minutes in the Rangers' 5-4 overtime loss to the Stars last week at Madison Square Garden.
He also missed seven consecutive games in November due to an upper-body injury.
“Things happen during the season that force you to make changes on the fly,” Laviolette said of managing the lineup during City's fluctuating circumstances.
Sam Carrick scored his third goal in his last six games on a shorthanded breakaway in the first period.
When Abs had a chance to double the lead on the first power play of the first period, Carrick spun it in the Rangers' favor.
Cale Makar lost the puck at the top of the zone, but Carrick scooped it up and ran up the ice for his fourth shorthanded goal of his career.
Bo Groulx was assigned to Hartford for the Rangers to comply with their roster for Tuesday's game.
The Rangers are scheduled to practice in Utah on Wednesday afternoon and face the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday night at the Delta Center.
