Rangers' Barclay Goodrow leaves in first period after taking puck to face
Artemi Panarin #10 of the Rangers celebrates his second period goal against the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. Credit: Jim McIsaac
OTTAWA — Rangers forward Barclay Goodrow left Tuesday night’s 6-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators in the first period after he was struck in the face by a shot from teammate K’Andre Miller.
The Rangers were forced to play the final two periods with 11 forwards.
“It’s tough,’’ coach Peter Laviolette said of losing Goodrow. “Listen, that happens. And certainly, we don’t like to see that. He’s an important part of our team for a lot of different reasons. But I think our guys responded OK after that.’’
Laviolette didn’t have an update on Goodrow other than to say he suffered an upper-body injury and is “being evaluated.’’
Panarin on pace for 126 points
Forward Artemi Panarin, who had a hat trick and an assist in Sunday’s win over San Jose, had a goal and an assist Tuesday, lifting his totals to 16 goals and 37 points in the first 24 games. He is on pace for 55 goals and 126 points. He has never scored more than 32 goals or 96 points in a season.
Rangers center Mika Zibanejad was asked if this is the best he’s seen Panarin play.
“Yes and no,’’ Zibanejad said. “I don’t know how, because of the high level that he’s shown, the type of player he is — how he keeps surprising us with the way he plays . . .
“The way he’s creating, the way he’s playing, the way he’s working, I think that’s something that is, is maybe to another level.’’
Blue notes
Laviolette said at the morning skate that there was no update on C Filip Chytil, who missed his 14th game with an upper-body injury that is presumed to be a concussion. Chytil is skating on his own and is “progressing,’’ Laviolette said. Kaapo Kakko, who missed his fourth game with a lower body injury, is also “progressing,’’ but he has not skated, the coach said . . . Rangers D Erik Gustafsson dropped the gloves with Ottawa’s Dominik Kubalik in the third period after D Braden Schneider was shaken up while taking a hit from behind.
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.
