Overview
- Coach Mike Sullivan said Saturday that Noah Laba has a lower-body injury and Urho Vaakanainen has an upper-body injury, with both considered week-to-week.
- Both players were hurt Wednesday against the Devils, left that game early, and did not travel for Thursday’s loss in Columbus.
- Connor Mackey stepped onto the third pair in Vaakanainen’s spot, while practice lines kept J.T. Miller at third-line center and moved Taylor Raddysh up the lineup.
- Laba’s absence removes a regular rookie penalty killer as New York’s PK has slumped to an NHL-worst 67.6% since the Olympic break, with Conor Sheary and Raddysh taking shorthanded shifts.
- With Jonathan Quick day-to-day, the Rangers recalled Dylan Garand, who is expected to make his NHL debut in the upcoming back-to-back.