BUFFALO – Ok’Andre Miller didn’t come out for the third interval of the Rangers’ 3-2 win over the Sabres on Wednesday evening attributable to an upper-body damage he sustained earlier within the evening.
Head coach Peter Laviolette didn’t have a right away replace on the 24-year-old defenseman.
Miller was upended by Sabres ahead Jordan Greenway lower than midway by way of the second interval. It’s unclear if that was when the damage occurred, particularly since he continued to play.
It was certainly one of Miller’s higher video games in a season the place protection has been a significant situation for the Blueshirts.
“I thought he’s been good lately,” Laviolette mentioned of Miller, who completed the sport with one shot on purpose, two blocks, one hit and two takeaways within the win. “Take out last game [against Chicago], everybody [was] just off the mark last game. Prior to that, I thought he was real strong, as well. He was good tonight.”
Changes proceed to be made to Rangers’ second power-play unit, which was composed of Will Cuylle, Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil, Reilly Smith and Zac Jones on Wednesday.
First it was Cuylle who was taken off forward of the Blackhawks sport. This time, it was Kaapo Kakko.
“They’re all having good years,” Laviolette mentioned. “It’s difficult. All those players could be in the lineup. I do think that Cools provides a good net-front. He’s a guy that’s willing to get in there and stand there and just take the eyes, similarly to the way Chris Kreider does it. They’ve all been effective in that situation.”
Artemi Panarin notched an help in his 700th profession NHL sport.
Because the star Russian wing made his NHL debut in 2015-16, Panarin ranks second within the league in assists (536) and fifth in factors (816).
Not solely does he have factors in 5 of his final six video games, however Panarin has at the least one level in 21 of 28 video games to this point this season.
Mika Zibanejad’s power-play rating counted as his three hundredth profession NHL purpose. He’s simply the eighth participant with Swedish nationality in NHL historical past to succeed in that milestone.
The purpose additionally counted as his forty ninth game-opening rating with the Rangers, surpassing Andy Bathgate for the sixth most in franchise historical past.
Defenseman Urho Vaakainanen, who the Rangers acquired from Anaheim within the Jacob Trouba commerce, continues to skate in a inexperienced non-contact jersey whereas on injured reserve with an upper-body damage.
Jimmy Vesey was a wholesome scratch for the second straight sport.
