Artemi Panarin not in Rangers' lineup vs. Vegas

Artemi Panarin, who left Wednesday’s game with a lower-body injury, was not in the lineup Friday night when the Rangers hosted the Vegas Golden Knights at Madison Square Garden.

Panarin, the team’s leading scorer entering the game with 33 points (nine goals, 24 assists), left the 3-2 win over the Coyotes in Arizona after one shift in the second period. After that game, coach Gerard Gallant said the injury was minor and that Panarin’s status was "day-to-day.’’

Friday’s game was the Rangers’ 10th in the last 17 days, and with the Blueshirts not playing again until Wednesday, when they will host the Montreal Canadiens, not dressing Panarin gave him extra rest.

Panarin’s absence forced Gallant to bring Filip Chytil back into the lineup after the 22-year-old Czech was a healthy scratch Wednesday. Chytil, usually the third-line center, returned to the lineup as a left wing, playing on the third line with center Barclay Goodrow and right wing Julien Gauthier. Alexis Lafreniere, usually the third-line left wing, moved up to play on the second line with center Ryan Strome and right wing Dryden Hunt.

Midway through the first period, Gallant changed things up, moving Chytil to right wing with Lafreniere and Strome and dropping Hunt to left wing with Goodrow and Gauthier.

 

Georgiev starts again

Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev started for the sixth time in the eight games since Igor Shesterkin was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. Georgiev made 28 saves, including four in overtime, one on a breakaway by Max Pacioretty. It was the 100th start of Georgiev’s NHL career, all with the Rangers. Shesterkin took part in the full morning skate, splitting time in one goal with Keith Kinkaid, who got the start against Arizona.

 

Blue notes

C Greg McKegg played his 200th NHL game . . . D Libor Hajek played his fourth straight game after making his season debut Sunday against Nashville. . . . Rookie Nils Lundkvist missed his fourth straight game with a non-COVID-19-related illness. Lundkvist took part in the morning skate for the first time since leaving the lineup.