For the primary time since present process jaw surgical procedure within the preseason, Ryan Lindgren shed the bubble helmet for observe on Saturday.
“You kind of got used to it,” Lindgren instructed The Publish earlier than the Rangers departed for Seattle to start their first four-game highway journey of the season. “But it’s really nice to get it off, for sure.”
Thursday’s 3-2 win over the Sharks was the final recreation Lindgren deliberate to put on the cumbersome full face protect, after having to play by means of it for his first 10 video games of the 2024-25 marketing campaign.
Lindgren wore the cage for a pair video games final season, when he damage his eye, which needed to get stitched up after he took a keep on with the face within the Stadium Sequence.
This time round, nevertheless, it was a for much longer stretch and far heavier tools given the character of his jaw damage.
The helmet decreased in dimension as the additional padded add-ons — significantly across the jaw and chin space — got here off.
“I think more so when I had the guard in with the chin,” he stated of the obstacles he confronted enjoying with that form of helmet. “Just your vision, that kind of messes with it a little bit. When we took that out and it was just the shield, you don’t really notice it.”
Lindgren was a step behind by means of his first stretch of the season, a pure byproduct of getting no preseason and coming off jaw surgical procedure.
There have been points clearing the puck and successful 50-50 puck battles.
Coming again and never lining up alongside Adam Fox, who he has performed most of his hockey profession with, was one other adjustment Lindgren needed to make in his first 5 video games again.
Coach Peter Laviolette stated he thought Lindgren has gotten higher, particularly now that he’s beginning to really feel higher and extra up to the mark.
“It was tough,” Lindgren stated of his transition again to the ice. “I didn’t obviously get to play in any preseason games. Jumping into that first game back in Montreal, I hadn’t played in like six months. You’re just a little rusty. I think it’s just like anything, the more you play, the better you feel, the more comfortable. I feel like I’m starting to feel back to normal now.”
Matt Rempe was again on the precise wing Friday night time for the AHL Wolf Pack, skating on the third line with Adam Sykora and Jake Leschyshyn.