RALEIGH, N.C. — Igor Shesterkin led the Rangers in warmups for Game 3 of their second-round series against the Hurricanes, with Filip Sztil right behind him.
The Czech center stepped onto the ice under the white hue of the lights at PNC Arena for his first game since suffering what was believed to be the fourth concussion in his seven-year NHL career.
Despite undergoing a medical diagnosis since mid-April, Sitil had to work towards his return to as close to playing condition as possible.
He has been participating fully in practice for nearly a month, but has only been on the line in rotation.
The return of Cityl, who missed 78 consecutive games in both the regular season and playoffs, gives Matt Lempe a healthy scratch for the first time since April 11.
The Rangers won Game 2 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night on a goal by Vincent Trocheck in double overtime.
Lempe didn’t play in the third period, let alone the overtime period, in the Game 1 win.
This need to reduce the bench probably factored into head coach Peter Laviolette’s decision to bring in Sitil.
