Drury hopes to play if Rangers qualify
Rangers captain Chris Drury hasn't played since early February because of a knee injury. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Chris Drury, who has been out since Feb. 3 with an injured knee, skated hard Monday with some teammates and coaches and hopes he might be ready at some point if the Rangers make the playoffs.
"That's my ultimate goal," Drury said, but he cautioned that he has a ways to go. He skated in sweats Saturday and in full equipment Sunday, "but that wasn't much more than cruising around." How his knee reacted Monday night and Tuesday will determine what happens next.
"[The skate] was good, but it's not an NHL game," he said. "The goal is to continue to work out and progress every day and help this team win. I don't want to speculate or assume . . . We'll see what happens. It's day-to-day."
In the most injury-plagued season of his 13-year career, the team's captain has played only 23 games and recorded four assists. Drury fractured a finger in the home opener Oct. 15 and didn't return until Dec. 15. He had knee surgery Feb. 11.
Although it has been tough to watch the Rangers this season, Drury, 34, has perspective. "I've been so fortunate [with injuries] in my career,'' he said. "Missed 10, 11 games with a knee sprain in Colorado, had a few concussions that could've done a lot more damage . . . I consider myself really lucky."
Newbury up as precaution
Similar to when goaltender Cam Talbot was called up before the Islanders game when Henrik Lundqvist was suffering from a sore knee, Kris Newbury was called up from the AHL as a precaution in case a forward couldn't dress. Newbury, who has appeared in 11 games this season, was scratched.
