Prospal has surgery, to miss six to eight weeks
Photo credit: Christopher Pasatieri | New York Rangers center Vaclav Prospal (20) prepares for a face off during the game against the Nashville Predators. (Feb. 10, 2010)
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Vinny Prospal, the Rangers' leading scorer last season with 58 points, had surgery Monday to remove a bone fragment from his right knee and will be sidelined six to eight weeks.
The 35-year-old forward has been resting and receiving treatment for the inflamed knee since Sept. 24. He had arthroscopic surgery on the knee last December.
"It's a little better than expected," John Tortorella said. "We just weren't sure and I don't think they [the doctors] were. Now they know what they feel really was causing the problem and we have a bit of a timetable."
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New alternate?
In Prospal's absence - and without captain Chris Drury (broken finger) for six weeks - a second alternate captain could be named soon. "I have an idea of who I would like," Tortorella said. "We'll talk about it as a staff, a team, and see where we go with it." Ryan Callahan, named last season, is the sole alternate captain.
Powerless kill
Through three games, the Rangers' penalty kill was 13-for-17, 24th in the league. The Blueshirts have allowed at least one power-play goal per game, but Tortorella was more concerned about the infractions themselves rather than the penalty-killers' performance.
"I think it's been good. I'm not sure where we are percentage-wise, but we've been down too much," Tortorella said.
Before last night, the Rangers were 2-for-12 on the power play, tied for 12th in the league.
Sauer scratched
Rookie defenseman Michael Sauer was a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game. The Rangers have the second-youngest defense corps in the league behind Los Angeles.
