One defenseman back, and another gone.
As captain Ryan McDonagh returned from a one-game absence because of back spasms in Tuesday night’s resounding 5-1 victory over the Flyers, the Rangers also lost Marc Staal at the start of the third period to a hip-flexor injury.
Coach Alain Vigneault was unsure exactly when it happened, as Staal played 14:09 through the first two periods — and was on at the end of the period — while collecting an assist and having a plus-4 rating.
“We’ll know more [Wednesday],” Vigneault said. “I don’t think it’s serious, but I couldn’t tell you the length of the injury.”
McDonagh had missed Sunday’s 5-2 loss to the Penguins in Pittsburgh after his back locked up on the final shift of Saturday’s 7-2 loss to the Islanders at the Garden. He said it was a “non-contact” injury, and just that it was “unfortunate timing.”
“A couple days there where I didn’t have the motion and wasn’t able to move very well,” McDonagh said before he played a solid 21:01, finishing with an assist and three shots on net. “But feeling good, so I’m excited.”
Goalie Henrik Lundqvist won his 20th game of the season, becoming the first goalie in NHL history to win 20 or more games in each of his first 13 seasons.
“When it’s the first time in NHL history, it’s pretty cool,” said Lundqvist, who now has 425 career wins, having recently passed Tony Esposito for eighth on the all-time list. “I’m really proud. I’ve played with some really good players. I’m not going to lie, the first couple years, they were legends.”
Veteran journeyman Peter Holland made his Rangers debut after being called up from AHL Hartford on Monday to replace rookie Boo Nieves, who had been sent down. Holland, 27, played 13:40 while centering a line between Michael Grabner and Jesper Fast. He also made a slick pass to collect an assist Paul Carey’s shorthanded goal at 19:50 of the first period.
“I think he played a good game,” Vigneault said. “He made a nice play on the goal. He was dependable in our zone, and I thought he did what he had to do to play a smart game.”
Center Kevin Hayes missed his second straight game with a leg contusion. Hayes was hurt in the team’s final game before their five-day bye week, a 2-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 7. He was able to play in Saturday’s game against the Islanders, but the pain came back during the match and afterward, and he has not been on the ice since.Vigneault was unsure if Hayes was going to be able to join practice Wednesday.
After playing the previous three games, defenseman Steven Kampfer was a healthy scratch as McDonagh returned.