Ryan Lindgren isn’t sure he can pinpoint a single reason why his recovery from a shoulder injury took longer than expected.
It’s been a tough recovery, he said, and part of his delay stemmed from his inability to maintain the level of physical fitness he’d grown to define his game.
But after missing 11 games, Lindgren confirmed he’ll join the Rangers’ morning skate on Tuesday before joining the blueshirt lineup against the Hurricanes — “I’m ready to go tonight,” he said. Said.
“It could have taken a little longer,” said Lindgren. “Obviously I want to get back there as soon as possible, but I just want to be smart. I feel good now.”
Lindgren originally injured his shoulder in a game against Washington on February 25 and was forced to leave early when a hit by T.J.
At times his return seemed close, but his morning skating and attending practices didn’t translate into the pre-game rush or the game itself.
He felt Tuesday’s return was feasible when he noticed his shoulder was more responsive in his recent skating when he shot the puck.
He also tested how it held up physically.
Having played in 57 of his 70 blueshirt games this season, Lindgren has noticed gradual improvement while working out in the gym.
The Rangers went 8-2-1 without Lindgren, and sometimes even pieced the blue line together with a four or five man defense.
Lindgren’s return probably means Ben Harper will be taken out of the lineup and become the Blueshirt’s seventh defenseman on Tuesday night.
He rotated into the morning skate while Braden Schneider and Nico Mikkola were the third pair.
“I just want to make sure I can play the way I want to when I get back out there, don’t hesitate at all,” said Lindgren. “…I’m out there now and I feel good.”
