Pionk doesn’t lose vision after scary stick to eye

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Rangers and Neal Pionk both felt lucky the defenseman wasn’t more seriously injured on Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh, when he took a stick to the right eye from Sidney Crosby. That gratitude carried over when Pionk was able to take part in Tuesday’s morning skate, and that it was only for “precautionary reasons” he was out of the lineup for the 2-1 win over the Hurricanes.

“[Crosby] just tried to lift my stick up and it got a little high. After that, it was just a rush of emotions,” said Pionk, his right eye still significantly bruised and swollen. “Didn’t really know what was going on, and a little scary in the moment. But it’s getting better day by day.”

Pionk said he visited an eye doctor Monday, and that everything was fine. He also said his vision was “all good.” He needed one stitch, while trainer Jim Ramsay also “glued” the other cut on his eyelid.

The 23-year-old Pionk said Ramsay had to “peel my eye open” once they got to the trainer’s room, which surely wasn’t a good feeling.

“I didn’t lose vision, but it was so sensitive that I had my eye shut the whole time,” Pionk said. “It was so sensitive and so shut that I didn’t really know what was going on.”

In his third game with the Rangers, forward Connor Brickley scored his first goal, a rebound going in off his chest at 10:40 of the second period to tie the game, 1-1. It was first called a no-goal on the ice, but after video review, it counted.

“It’s taken me a little while to get back into the NHL,” said Brickley, who was obtained Jan. 19 in the trade of Cole Schneider to the Predators. “I’m getting a little second opportunity here and I’m trying to make the most of my opportunity.”

After four straight games with the lopsided lineup of 11 forwards and seven defensemen, Rangers coach David Quinn went back to the traditional 12 and six.

Defenseman Brady Skjei returned after missing Sunday’s game with a minor leg injury, pairing alongside Adam McQuaid. Marc Staal went with Tony DeAngelo and Brendan Smith was with Kevin Shattenkirk.

Freddy Clasesson was the healthy scratch following his return Sunday after being out since Jan. 12 with a shoulder injury.

Winger Jesper Fast returned after he missed Sunday’s game with not just the flu, but “complications from it,” according to Quinn. He got 13:01 of ice time on a line with Vlad Namesntnikov and Ryan Strome.