Ryan Lindgren misses 10th straight game with upper-body injury
Defenseman Ryan Lindgren hasn't played since the last time the Rangers faced the Capitals on Feb. 25. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Rangers coach Gerard Gallant didn’t want to rule out the possibility that defenseman Ryan Lindgren might make his return to the lineup in Saturday night’s game at the Garden against the Penguins, but Lindgren did not play. He missed his 10th straight game with an upper-body injury.
Lindgren last played Feb. 25, when he was driven hard into the boards by Capitals forward T.J. Oshie in a 6-3 loss to Washington.
Lindgren took part in the morning skate but did not do the normal line rushes with his regular partner, Adam Fox. Instead, Fox was back with Niko Mikkola.
Lindgren had returned to practice with the team on the road trip last weekend but did not practice with the team after that, working out on his own.
When Gallant spoke to reporters after the morning skate, he said a return for Lindgren was possible. “Probably a better chance he’s not, but there’s still a chance,’’ he said.
Gallant was asked if the fact that Saturday’s game was the front end of a back-to-back would play a part in the decision about whether Lindgren would play. “It’s a factor, for sure,’’ he said.
With Lindgren still unavailable, Ben Harpur again dressed in his place.
Defenseman Braden Schneider was asked what the absence of Lindgren means to the Rangers’ defense.
“He’s a huge piece of our top four,’’ he said. “He plays hard minutes and he plays extremely well and he’s good in both ends of the ice . . . We miss him, definitely, on the back end, but I think we’ve done a good job at being ready. There’s not much you can do. It’s kind of one of those things that’s out of your control.’’
Blue notes
Igor Shesterkin started in goal for the Rangers, who will continue the rare home back-to-back on Sunday with a game against the Nashville Predators.
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.
