Rangers have avoided the injury bug this season

If you have to be last in the NHL in one category, it's a good sign if it's this one: Man-games lost to injury.

Through the first 20 games, the Rangers have lost only four man-games to injury. That's the fewest in the league. At the other end of the spectrum, the Red Wings already have lost 83 man-games, followed by the Sabres (75) and Blues (70).

Coach Alain Vigneault recently said he can't remember ever coaching a team that has avoided severe injuries this deep into the season. "We've been fortunate on that, for sure," said captain Ryan McDonagh, who missed 10 of the first 20 games last season with a separated shoulder.

Through the first 20 games last season, the Rangers lost 41 man-games and went 10-7-3. Defenseman Dan Boyle missed 14 games with a broken hand, Derek Stepan was sidelined for 12 while recovering from a fractured fibula, Mats Zuccarello missed two games (one with a groin problem) and Kevin Hayes (shoulder), Lee Stempniak (back) and Kevin Klein (foot) didn't dress for a game each. The Blueshirts finished with 113 man-games lost, 10th-fewest in the league.

This season, 12 forwards and five defensemen have played every game. Rick Nash missed the Nov. 6 and Nov. 7 games in Colorado and Arizona with a back issue and Viktor Stalberg (concussion) was sidelined for the Oct. 25 and Oct. 30 games against Calgary and Toronto. The Rangers won all four.

But a longer-term injury up front or on the blue line will test the team's depth.

Currently, the Rangers' only spare forward is Emerson Etem, 23, who was acquired from Anaheim in the Carl Hagelin trade and has two assists in seven games. The seventh defenseman is Dylan McIlrath, 23, who has played in only four games, spelling Boyle against the Jets, Capitals, Avalanche and Maple Leafs.

Beyond that, the first option is to turn to the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack, because the Rangers have only $1.1 million in salary-cap space.

On defense, the likely move would be to call up Raphael Diaz, who was signed to a $700,000 contract as a free agent last summer. Diaz, who played 56 games for Calgary last season (2-2-4), was hit in the throat with a puck and missed some games last month but has returned. In 10 AHL games, he is 1-2-3. Diaz, a righty, is a capable third-pair guy and an option on the point on the power play. Rookie Brady Skjei, a splendid skater and defender without any NHL experience, has played 17 games with the Wolf Pack and has five assists. He would have a $925,000 cap charge.

If the Rangers need a forward beyond Etem, the choices appear somewhat limited. The Wolf Pack have scored only 40 goals in 17 games and are 2-7-1 in the last 10. Brian Gibbons, 27, who has played 66 NHL games for the Penguins and Blue Jackets and has five goals and 22 points, is available. The 5-8 Gibbons is 3-6-9 in 14 AHL games.

Two other players likely would be considered. Jayson Megna, 25, who has played 48 games with the Penguins (5-5-10), has three goals and seven points in 17 games in the AHL. Wolf Pack captain Ryan Bourque is 4-3-7 in 17 games.

Odds are that the Rangers will summon one or more of them during the regular season. No team is totally healthy forever.