RALEIGH, N.C. — The Rangers and Neal Pionk both felt lucky the defenseman wasn’t more seriously injured on Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh, when he took a stick to the right eye from Sidney Crosby. That gratitude carried over when Pionk was able to take part in Tuesday’s morning skate, and that it was only for “precautionary reasons” he was out of the lineup for the 2-1 win over the Hurricanes.
“[Crosby] just tried to lift my stick up and it got a little high. After that, it was just a rush of emotions,” said Pionk, his right eye still significantly bruised and swollen.