The bad news for the Rangers is that Kevin Klein will miss Thursday night’s game against Minnesota at The Garden.
But there was significant good news, as well, as Klein took part in the morning skate and was able to handle the puck, meaning his time out with a fractured right thumb likely won’t be that long.
It’s a far different scenario than the one the Rangers feared when they announced the injury Wednesday.
What started out as a potentially weeks-long absence, figures to be much shorter following the injury the defenseman suffered near the end of Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to the Devils, when Klein landed awkwardly following a hit by Reid Boucher.