PHILADELPHIA — Mats Zuccarello, sidelined because of a groin issue for the past three games and six of the previous seven matches, made his return on the Rangers fourth line Friday afternoon.
But by the start of the second period of the Rangers’ 4-0 defeat to the Flyers, Zuccarello had reclaimed his rightful spot on the top six, leaving Lias Andersson and Steven Fogarty behind to skate on the left with Mika Zibanejad and Jesper Fast.
“That was the plan,” coach David Quinn said. “Zukey was very confident, but I wanted to put him into a situation where I could ease him back into it.