NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Christmas break couldn’t have come at a better time for the Rangers, and for alternate captain Dan Girardi.
The Blueshirts’ ironman defenseman missed the final five games before the four-day hiatus, revealing after Sunday’s practice that it was a result of a small crack in his right kneecap that had caused pain and swelling around the knee. But barring any major setback, he will make his return to game action on Monday night against the Predators at Bridgestone Arena, where Girardi and his team will be trying to turn around what had been a troubling past month of sloppy and uncharacteristic play.