The New York Rangers came out of Tuesday’s loss to the Carolina Hurricanes a little banged up. Artemi Panarin and Andrew Copp didn’t play in Wednesday’s game against former Ranger Marty St. Louis‘ Montreal Canadiens. However, neither injury appears to be serious. Chris Kreider received special honors on two nights, and president and general manager (GM) Chris Drury made some savvy moves at the trade deadline that are already paying off.
Panarin & Copp Banged Up
Panarin and Copp left Tuesday’s game against the Hurricanes, who clinched the Metropolitan Division with a 4-3 win over the Rangers. The former left with an upper-body injury and the latter with a lower-body injury. Panarin missed his first game since Jan. 10, while Copp was in his first game back since sitting out Saturday against the Boston Bruins. It’s believed that Copp aggravated the same injury that kept him out of that game.
Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Both were kept out of the rest of the Hurricanes game and scratched for the Canadians game as a precaution. “They told me between periods, ‘Do you want them back?’ And I said no, I need them back next week,” said Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant, who added that the two forwards should be fine. “I hate to see it, but I’d [rather] be cautious than not have them when the games really matter” (from ‘Rangers get injury scares as Hurricanes clinch Metro Division,’ New York Post, 4/26/22).
The Rangers finished in second place in the Metro with home ice for the first round of the playoffs locked up, so there’s no need to rush anyone back.
Kreider Honored With Two Awards
On Tuesday, Kreider was named the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award Winner, as voted on by the fans. Each season, the award is presented to the Ranger who “goes above and beyond the call of duty.” The organization has given out the award since the 1987-88 season in honor of New York City Police Detective Steven McDonald,…
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