McD sitting out with ailing abs
RYAN McDonagh had yet to miss a game due to the abdominal strain that kept him out of practice Tuesday, an issue that led to him sitting out of a few practices earlier this season. But the strain will now sideline the Rangers’ captain for tonight’s game in Raleigh against the Hurricanes.
McDonagh was being checked out Tuesday afternoon and Alain Vigneault didn’t know how long he would be out.
“I just know it’s been bothering him,” Vigneault said. “Obviously our docs have been on top of this here. It’s just been lingering a little bit.”
His absence from three previous practices this season suggested something might be amiss with McDonagh, who after one of the “maintenance days” he received in October said the issue was small and he was fine. The ab strain could also partially explain some of the struggles McDonagh had out of the gate.
Without McDonagh, Vigneault shifted Brendan Smith to the left of Nick Holden, whom McDonagh had played with throughout this month, and Steven Kampfer was paired with Marc Staal. Kampfer was scratched the last two games when Smith was reinserted following a healthy sixgame absence. “Huge void when (McDonagh’s) out of the lineup,” said Kevin Shattenkirk, who remains paired with Brady Skjei. “So it’s not just one guy who has to step in there and fill the role. It’s gonna be everyone. He plays so many roles on this team that each guy is gonna be asked at different points in the game to carry that.”
McDonagh, who plays both shorthanded and on the second power-play unit on which he’ll be replaced by Kevin Hayes — a center — for tonight’s game, is averaging 23:22 of ice time per game, about one minute shorter than his average last season but a minute longer than his 2015-16 average.
“So many guys are always looking to get more minutes: Here’s an opportunity to play some more important minutes,” Vigneault said. “I’m expecting our ‘D’ group as a group to step up.”
The Rangers (10-9-2) have won seven of nine heading into the first of four games against Carolina, which is tied with the Blueshirts on points but has two games in hand.
“I feel like we’re more consistent,” said Henrik Lundqvist, who is set to start for the 10th straight game and 19th time in 22 matches.
“You look at all teams, even the teams at the top of the standings, they don’t play great all the time, but they’re pretty consistent. They have some dips. Just have to make sure you bounce right back. I like the way we’re heading right now.”