Rangers still uncertain when Filip Chytil will return after missing seventh straight game-quang

PHILADELPHIA — As sands through the hourglass, Filp Chytil remains “day to day but not today,” according to head coach Peter Laviolette’s briefing before the Rangers were beaten by the Flyers 3-1, here Friday afternoon.

The oft-injured 25-year-old center missed his seventh straight game after suffering an unidentified upper-body injury in colliding with K’Andre Miller during the second period of the Blueshirts’ 3-2 victory over the Sharks at the Garden on Nov. 14.

Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers is attended to following a collision with K’Andre Miller #79 during the second period against the San Jose Sharks at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 14, 2024.

Chytil rejoined the team in Calgary last week after having been cleared of a concussion by a phalanx of specialists, but while he has skated regularly, No. 72 has not yet taken contact in a full practice.

Laviolette, circumspect per organization policy, would not reveal whether Chytil—who was centering Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko on the team’s best line before he went down—was operating under restrictions.

“He’s been skating. He skated today,” said the coach, whose team was attempting to break a four-game regulation losing streak. “Right now, he’s day to day, and we haven’t really practiced.”

The Rangers are hopeful Chytil can return soon.

Kakko was set to center the third line for the third straight game between Adam Edstrom and Reilly Smith. The makeshift unit with Kakko playing the middle for the first time in his six-year NHL career has held its own in the previous two matches, on for one goal for and one goal against with a 47.06 expected goal share.

Chris Kreider, also “day to day, not today,” missed his third straight game while dealing with back spasms.

With Kreider and Chytil unavailable, the Rangers had no healthy scratches up front. Chad Ruhwedel, however, filled his standard role with a healthy scratch on the back end.

For the second time in the past seven games, the Blueshirts did not earn a power play. They’ve created just 12 man-advantages over those seven matches while failing to score a PPG.

“For sure, that’s true that we don’t have the puck enough,” Artemi Panarin told The Post. “We are not playing in the O-zone much. We have to dominate in the O-zone because that’s where you draw the penalties.”

The Blueshirts were shorthanded only once, killing a third-penalty power play.

The Blueshirts begin a five-game homestand Saturday afternoon when the Canadiens come to town. The Devils, Penguins, Kraken and Blackhawks follow on this stretch.

Chicago has the third-worst points percentage in the NHL, Pittsburgh fourth-worst, Montreal fifth-worst and Seattle 14 from the bottom.

The Rangers are 5-4-1 at the Garden