The New York Rangers will emerge from the All-Star break with a match-up versus the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, and it appears they’ll do so without Rick Nash in their lineup.
As per the Rangers, he’s still dealing with a bone bruise on his left leg, despite a week off. According to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, the injury occurred when Nash lost an edge and went hard into the boards during a game against the Hurricanes on Jan. 22.
Nash’s goal totals are down this season, but he had been on a three-game point streak prior to the injury.
Head coach Alain Vigneault explained that Nash underwent another CT scan Monday morning, which did not reveal any more serious damage to the leg than the original diagnosis if a bone bruise.
“It’s a bad bone bruise and it’s taken longer our medical crew thought it would,” stated Vigneault. “He’s still feeling pain and he’s having a tough time walking.”
The Rangers have three games on their schedule this week. They’ll play the Minnesota Wild on Thursday and the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, so it remains to be seen exactly when Nash might return to the lineup.
In 45 games, Nash has 12 goals and 33 points. The Rangers are currently second in the Metropolitan Division and three points ahead of the New York Islanders.
The Islanders do have two games in hand.
