GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh has an abdominal strain and the defenseman will not play against the Hurricanes in Carolina on Wednesday night.
The defenseman, who will miss his first game this season, did not practice Tuesday.
His most recent partner on the blueline, Nick Holden, skated with Brendan Smith. Spare defenseman Steven Kampfer will play, paired with Marc Staal.
McDonagh has 12 assists and is a plus-6 in 21 games. Coach Alain Vigneault will have his daily briefing within the hour before the team flies to Raleigh.
It also appears that center David Desharnais will draw back into the lineup against the Hurricanes after being scratched for the 3-0 defeat of the Senators on Sunday.