Ryan Lindgren took off his bubble helmet for Saturday's practice for the first time since undergoing jaw surgery in the preseason.
“I'm getting used to it a lot,” Lindgren told the Post before the Rangers left for Seattle to begin their first four-game road trip of the season. “But it was definitely nice to be able to take it off.”
Lindgren, who had to play in the first 10 games of the 2024-25 season wearing a full-face shield, is expected to play in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Sharks wearing a thicker full-face shield. It was the last match.
Lindgren wore a cage for several games last season after suffering an eye injury when he was hit in the face with a stick during the Stadium Series.
But this time, given the nature of the jaw injury, the stretch was longer and required heavier equipment.
The size of the helmet was reduced when the extra padded fittings were removed, especially around the chin and chin area.
“I thought it more so when I was chin-locking the guard,” he said of the obstacles he faced playing in that type of helmet. “Just your vision, it messes it up a little bit. Once you took it off, you didn't really notice because it was just a shield.”
Lindgren was a step behind in the first game of the season, which was a natural byproduct of no preseason and coming off jaw surgery.
It was a matter of clearing the puck and winning a 50-on-50 puck battle.
Coming back and not being alongside Adam Fox, with whom he has played most of his hockey career, was another adjustment Lindgren had to make in his first five games back.
Coach Peter Laviolette said he thinks Lindgren has improved, especially now that he's starting to feel better and up to speed.
“It was tough,” Lindgren said of his return to the ice. “Obviously, I missed the preseason games. When I came back to Montreal and played my first game, I hadn't played in about six months. You're a little rusty, I think with everything. The more I play, the better and more comfortable I feel. I feel like I'm starting to get back to normal now.”
Matt Lempe returned to right wing for the AHL Wolfpack on Friday night, skating on the third line with Adam Sikora and Jake Lecicin.
