The New York Rangers announced today that Rick Nash is set to miss the next week with a groin injury. While the Rangers would rather their superstar miss no time at all, the prognosis is much better than it could have been. After the worst year of his pro career in 2016-16, Nash has looked rejuvenated this season with 11 goals and seven assists in 28 games. New York expects him back at full strength as soon as he’s cleared to play next week.
Unfortunately, the timing is not great for the Rangers. With just four wins in their last ten games, the team has cooled off after their hot start and other teams have taken advantage. With the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets set to take over the Metropolitan Division and a suddenly damaged-goods Montreal Canadiens team primed to give up the top spot in the East, New York needs their A-game right now. With Nash out of the lineup, line mate Jimmy Vesey day-to-day, and two games against the Chicago Blackhawks in the next five days, others will have to step up for the Rangers or they will be solidly in third in the division and have missed out on a chance to seize the conference by this time next week.
In other news:
- The Edmonton Oilers today announced that defenseman Mark Fayne has been placed on injured reserve and that David Musil has been recalled from the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL to replace him. Fayne becomes the fifth Oilers defenseman currently on IR, joining Brandon Davidson, Darnell Nurse, Andrew Ference, and Eric Gryba. Rookie Matt Benning has already been pressed into regular service this season and now either Musil will make his first start since April 11th, 2015 tomorrow night against the Philadelphia Flyers or Dillon Simpson, called up on Saturday, will make his NHL debut.
- The Minnesota Wild have recalled forward Teemu Pulkkinen from the AHL’s Iowa Wild and he joined the team before their game tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, Pulkkinen will be a healthy scratch. After being claimed off of waivers before the season, the former Detroit Red Wings prospect played in eight games with Minnesota, but after scoring just one goal in that span, was demoted before the end of October. A point-per-game player with Iowa thus far, Pulkkinen appears to have outgrown the AHL and will look to earn a full spot with Minnesota this time around.
- The Boston Bruins have sent down Noel Acciari to the Providence Bruins of the AHL. Having just activated Acciari off of the injured reserve, it is likely that the Bruins simply wanted the young winger to get some game time in at the AHL level before re-entering the Boston lineup. With Matt Beleskey sidelined and Frank Vatrano yet to be activated, there is space on the roster for Acciari if they want to call him up sooner rather than later.