Rangers injury update: Artemi Panarin again leaves preseason game with lower-body issue
For the second time this preseason, Artemi Panarin was unable to finish what he started. The New York Rangers star forward left their preseason game Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden in the first period with a lower-body injury.
One week ago, Panarin left in the third period of a 6-4 preseason win against the New York Islanders, also with a lower-body issue.
It appeared the injury last week was a minor one. Panarin was back on the ice Thursday after he missed practice Wednesday. He didn’t play last Thursday against the Boston Bruins nor Monday against the Devils.
Obviously, this is a major concern for the Rangers now with opening night against the Pittsburgh Penguins next Wednesday, Oct. 9, looming.
The Rangers are already without defenseman Ryan Lindgren (upper body) and forward Jimmy Vesey (lower body). Each is expected to miss a few weeks of action. Lindgren was hurt a week ago after a fight with Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield. Vesey sustained a non-contact injury in practice Sunday.
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Artemi Panarin has been productive, durable in five Rangers seasons
Panarin scored an NHL career-high 49 goals last season and had 120 points, fourth most in the League and second most in Rangers history. Since signing with the Rangers in the summer of 2019, Panarin has totaled a whopping 461 points (149 goals, 312 assists) in 350 games.
Panarin scored an NHL career-high 49 goals last season and had 120 points, fourth most in the League and second most in Rangers history. Since signing with the Rangers in the summer of 2019, Panarin has totaled a whopping 461 points (149 goals, 312 assists) in 350 games.
Since the Rangers have not announced the severity or nature of Panarin’s injury, this is all conjecture.
Certainly there are plenty of fingers being crossed in the Rangers front office right now.
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New York Rangers place 4 on waivers, including Louis Domingue
Four players were placed on waivers Tuesday by the New York Rangers, including goalie Louis Domingue. It’s expected that the four will be assigned to Hartford of the American Hockey League if each clears waivers Wednesday.
The Rangers also placed defensemen Casey Fitzgerald and Brandon Scanlin on waivers, along with forward Anton Blidh.
It was expected that each of these players would be on Hartford’s roster this season when training camp started. That includes Domingue, even though he’s the most recognizable name on this list.
The 32-year-old goalie has 143 games of NHL experience, including one game with the Rangers last season. Domingue made 25 saves in a 4-1 win against the Minnesota Wild in his Rangers debut last Nov. 9.
He’s the No. 3 goalie in the Rangers organization, behind Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick, and ahead of third-year pro Dylan Garand, his partner in Hartford. Domingue originally signed with the Rangers as a free agent after he starred against them in the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Following injuries to goalies Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith, Domingue was 3-3 in six games for the Pittsburgh Penguins, a series the Rangers won in seven.
