Rangers Notes
RANGERS NOTES
Filip Chytil may be back in the Rangers’ lineup for the first time in 14 games Tuesday against the Sabres.
“There’s a good chance he’ll play [Tuesday],” head coach David Quinn said following practice Monday afternoon, adding that the 21-year-old center is considered a “game-time decision.”
The Rangers’ depth took a blow when Chytil sustained a hand injury on Jan. 24, which was given an initial timeline of four to six weeks. He practiced with the team for the first time last week but has been kept out of the last two games as the coaching staff continued to evaluate him.
While recovering from his injury, Chytil was placed on the COVID-19 protocol list Feb. 11. He was removed 10 days later but revealed last week that he did contract the coronavirus.
With Chytil set to return, the Rangers may have lost another player for a prolonged period of time. Quinn said Monday that defenseman Anthony Bitetto is considered “day-to-day” with a lowerbody injury.
And regarding Artemi Panarin, who has missed the last three games while on a leave of absence from the team, Quinn said the star winger is “day-to-day” — while Rangers PR clarified there is still no definitive timeline on his return.
➤ It’s not lost on Alexis Lafreniere that he’s had a slower start to his first pro season than many would’ve hoped from the top-overall pick in the 2020 draft.
But after recording an assist in each of the last two games against the Bruins, Lafreniere said he’s liked the way he’s played recently and that he’s starting to get comfortable.
“There’s always pressure, but I try to focus on myself a lot and not think about it too much,” Lafreniere said. “My last game before the season was maybe 10 months ago. I had to get my game shape back and try to get a little bit of a rhythm, but the last couple games, I think I’m playing better and just try to focus on myself. There’s always pressure, but you focus on getting better every day. I think it’s going to be good.”
➤ The Ranges’ next three games will be against the only teams who sit lower than them in the East division standings, in the Sabres and Devils.
While they’ve split two games against Buffalo, including an overtime win that gave the Sabres a point, the Rangers have gone 0-2 against the Devils.