The Penguins' Brian Dumoulin checks the Rangers' Brett Howden during the second period of an NHL game on March 9 in Pittsburgh. Credit: AP/Keith Srakocic
When Brett Howden was left out of the lineup last Saturday in the Rangers’ 4-0 win over the Bruins in Boston, it was the first time in his three-year NHL career that the 22-year-old center had missed a game as a healthy scratch.
He was back in the lineup Monday, when the Rangers faced the Philadelphia Flyers at the Garden, and he earned an assist in the 5-4 overtime loss. He earned another assist in Wednesday's 9-0 win over the Flyers, and entered Friday’s game in Washington against the Capitals with four assists on the season.