Vitali Kravtsov back in Rangers' lineup against Islanders
Vitali Kravtsov #74 of the New York Rangers skates against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden on October 23, 2022 in New York City. The Blue Jackets defeated the Rangers 5-1. Credit: Getty Images
Vitali Kravtsov returned to the Rangers’ lineup Tuesday against the Islanders, after missing four games with what the team called an upper body injury and was probably a concussion.
“He's had great jump in practice the other day, last couple of days, and feels real good,’’ coach Gerard Gallant said of Kravtsov, who has had three separate injury stints and had played only four games before Tuesday. “Hopefully things will happen [positively] for him – and for us. I mean, I'm sure he's pretty frustrated. A month into the season, He's played about 25 minutes, probably, in the four games he played.’’
Kravtsov started on the third line, on the right wing with Filip Chytil and Chris Kreider. He last played Oct. 29, when he was slammed into the boards in a collision with Dallas defenseman Jani Hakanpaa and appeared to hit his head against the boards. He’d previously missed four games after hitting his head against the boards on opening night against Tampa Bay and then missed the previous game against the Islanders on Oct. 26, with an upper body injury.
Lindgren, Gauthier out
Defenseman Ryan Lindgren missed his second game with an upper-body injury and forward Julien Gauthier also sat out with an upper-body injury sustained in the Rangers’ last game, the 3-2 overtime loss Sunday to Detroit. Gallant said Gauthier skated on his own Tuesday and is close to returning.
With Lindgren out, Libor Hajek played a second consecutive game at defense, but Gallant made a tweak to the defense pairs, restoring the combinations of K’Andre Miller and Jacob Trouba and Zac Jones-Braden Schneider. Hajek played with Lindgren’s regular defense partner, Adam Fox.
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LIberty look
The Rangers played their second of eight games wearing their reverse retro, Lady Liberty jerseys.
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.
