Rangers' Vitali Kravtsov out again after suffering another injury
Rangers right wing Vitali Kravtsov is checked against the boards by Dallas Stars defenseman Jani Hakanpaa (2) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Credit: AP/Michael Ainsworth
DALLAS — The injuries are starting to pile up for the Rangers. They already were missing center Filip Chytil, who is out with an upper-body injury, and lost winger Vitali Kravtsov to what appeared to be a head injury in the second period of Saturday’s 6-3 win over the Stars.
Kravtsov was forced to leave late in the second period. He was injured when he raced into the offensive zone to negate a possible icing call and, while falling forward, was pushed into the boards by Jani Hakanpaa.
The back of Kravtsov’s head appeared to slam into the boards and he lay on the ice motionless for a while before he was helped to the dressing room with 7:32 remaining in the period.
Kravtsov already had missed four games with an earlier injury after his head was driven into the boards by Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman in the season opener Oct. 11. The Rangers had described that as an upper-body injury, but when he returned, Kravtsov said his head had hit the boards, which suggested it may have been a concussion.
Coach Gerard Gallant did not have any information on Kravtsov after the game, other than saying for now he is out day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Lundkvist playing well
Former Rangers defenseman Nils Lundkvist has had a good start for Dallas with four points in nine games. He played 20:06 and had three shots on goal Saturday.
Lundkvist had asked for a trade and was dealt to the Stars before training camp. “I watched their last game and he played really well,’’ Gallant said before the game. “He’s a good, solid young player, just like everybody thought he was. He’s got some skills. Got some talent.’’
Gallant makes changes
Gallant made two lineup changes, reinserting Kravtsov in place of Ryan Reaves and defenseman Zac Jones in place of Libor Hajek. Jones scored the tiebreaking goal at 11:18 of the third period.
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.
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