One defenseman back, and another gone.
As captain Ryan McDonagh returned from a one-game absence because of back spasms in Tuesday night’s resounding 5-1 victory over the Flyers, the Rangers also lost Marc Staal at the start of the third period to a hip-flexor injury.
Coach Alain Vigneault was unsure exactly when it happened, as Staal played 14:09 through the first two periods — and was on at the end of the period — while collecting an assist and having a plus-4 rating.
“We’ll know more [Wednesday],” Vigneault said. “I don’t think it’s serious, but I couldn’t tell you the length of the injury.