Barclay Goodrow 'OK' after taking puck to the face
Barclay Goodrow #21 of the Rangers is tended to during the third period after an injury against the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The versatile Goodrow, who started the game as the fourth-line center, was playing up in the top two lines in the second half of the game, after Dryden Hunt’s ejection in the second period. He was injured when he tried to close down Flyers defenseman Keith Yandle at the left point and Yandle fired the puck into his eye shield. The shield broke, and Goodrow went straight down to the ice and remained there for several moments. Then he got up, holding his face, and skated directly off and headed to the locker room.
With him leaving because of injury, and Hunt leaving earlier, the Rangers finished the game with 10 forwards.
Gallant didn’t like call
Gallant didn’t think much of the call that sent Hunt out of the game, and gave the Flyers a five-minute power play early in the second period.
Hunt checked Philadelphia defenseman Justin Braun into the glass at 1:56 of the second period, shortly after the Rangers had taken a 3-0 lead on Chris Kreider’s 16th goal of the season. "What I saw was, he definitely hit him,’’ Gallant said. "But I didn’t see any jumping or anything like that. I just seen (Hunt) going in, and unfortunately, [Braun] banged his head against the glass and he got cut. So I disagree with the call, but we’ll move on.’’
Ex-Ranger Hayes returns
Ex-Ranger Kevin Hayes returned to the Flyers’ lineup against his old club after missing six games with an abdominal injury that had originally caused him to miss the first 12 games of the season. Wednesday’s game was his third of the season.
Another ex-Ranger, Derick Brassard, who has missed a week with a hip injury, did not return to the lineup, despite practicing with the team Tuesday.
The Flyers were originally supposed to play the Islanders Tuesday, but that game was postponed because of the Islanders’ COVID-19 issues, which also forced postponement of the Isles’ game against the Rangers on Sunday.
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
