The Rangers lost two players at once — and three overall — in their comeback 6-4 win over the Islanders in their second exhibition game Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
Only one returned.
Artemi Panarin (lower-body injury) and Ryan Lindgren (upper-body injury) both left Tuesday’s contest and did not return.
According to head coach Peter Laviolette, the two skaters are still being evaluated.
Scott Mayfield delivers a big hit on Filip Chytil during the Rangers’ 6-4 exhibition win over the Islanders on Sept. 24, 2024.
The third Ranger to leave the game with an injury was Filip Chytil, but the Czech center returned shortly thereafter and ultimately finished the contest.
Chytil was lit up at center ice by Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield less than halfway through the first period and was unable to get to his skates on his own power.
As the 25-year-old struggled to stand up, Lindgren sought out retribution and went after Mayfield, who got the best of the tussle.
A trainer came out to look at Chytil before his teammates helped him off the ice, while Lindgren went to the dressing room after getting hit with both a fighting and an instigator penalty.
Filip Chytil is tended to by a trainer after taking a big hit from the Islanders’ Scott Mayfield during the Rangers’ exhibition win.
Lindgren presumably sustained his upper-body injury in the fight with Mayfield.
Despite not being able to put any weight on his left leg as he left the ice, Chytil was back on the ice before the end of the period.
He scored a power-play goal in the third period before finishing with 9:59 of ice time.
“I saw him coming, maybe I could’ve made a better move,” said Chytil, who called it a hockey play. “But I saw him coming, I was ready for the hit, but I was not ready for his knee coming into my leg. This is a hockey play. I didn’t think about anything at all on the ice, even in the locker room and then I saw everything’s better. So I went back and played.”
The Rangers then lost Panarin in the third period.
The star Russian wing headed down the tunnel with what the Rangers say is a lower-body injury, and he did not return for the remainder of the final frame.
Artemi Panarin, who later left with a lower-body injury, skate with the puck as Casey Cizikas defends during the Rangers’ exhibition win
There didn’t appear to be any contact to the head of Chytil, who was sidelined for all but 10 regular-season games last season with his fourth suspected concussion, but his left knee took the brunt of the hit.
Chytil was looking down at the puck when Mayfield stepped up and awkwardly crashed into him.
Throughout the start of training camp, Chytil has been operating under zero limitations.
He expressed wanting to play in as many exhibition games as possible to make up for being off the ice for five months last season, which probably played a factor in him playing in the first two exhibition games.
“That’s me all the time,” Chytil said when asked why it was important for him to return even though it’s only preseason. “If I can play, I will play.”
Zac Jones scored twice in the win on Tuesday, including a late third-period goal to make it a one-goal game.
Chris Kreider also scored twice, including the game-tying goal and empty-netter.
New York Rangers defenseman Zac Jones (6) skates with the puck against New York Islanders left wing Eetu Liukas (49) during the third period of a NHL preseason hockey game at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.
Adam Edstrom, who posted two goals during a rookie game earlier this month, scored the game-winner.
Victor Mancini caught Laviolette’s attention with his two-point night in the preseason opener against the Bruins.
“I thought he was really strong in the game,” the head coach said before Tuesday’s game. “He’s been that way, though, for me, he was one of the guys that was really noticeable in those rookie games. He’s been noticeable in the scrimmages and practices that we’ve had with him.
“He’s big, he’s strong, he skates. He seems to be able to protect the puck from players trying to get it away from him. He’s able to use his speed and size to put it to an area where he can make the next play. I thought he had a real strong showing in Boston.”
Matthew Robertson (lower-body injury), Ryder Korczak (upper-body injury) and Talyn Boyko (upper-body injury) are all considered day-to-day and did not skate on Tuesday.
