Ryan McDonagh is back on the ice tonight after recovering from an abdominal strain that led him to miss the last four consecutive games for the New York Rangers. The Madison Square Garden faithful breathe a sigh of relief as the devoted captain is deemed fit enough to return this evening against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Ryan McDonagh: Good To Be Back
After a successful training session on Thursday, McDonagh spoke to RangersTV about his injury progress. He stated, “It’s come a long way here in the last few days, felt really good, not really thinking about it anymore and obviously that’s a good sign.”
Ryan McDonagh has been fortunate as the Rangers have won three out of four without him in the lineup this season. However, it has been noted in the past that the Rangers defense has sometimes been inconsistent. The last game against the Florida Panthers was an example of this. Defenceman Brendan Smith’s sloppy play on the left side led to Denis Malgin scoring the game-winning goal late in the third period.
What Does The Captain Bring To The Table?
AV confirms @RMcDonagh27 will return to the #NYR lineup. Kampfer will come out.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 1, 2017
McDonagh has always played well under pressure, rarely does he give away possession in his own zone. He also helps to move the puck up the ice and create offensive chances. This is identified in part, with a CF% of 52.3 (fourth highest on the team).
Henrik Lundqvist will certainly benefit from having the captain’s much needed support back again as this is his 14th game straight between the pipes. McDonagh clears the crease effectively and has been known to put his body on the line for his team- ranked second in blocked shots (942). He often faces the other team’s top players.
With tough games coming up, all against a number of very strong Metropolitan teams and with the wild card spot within reach; the Rangers need not only McDonagh, but every other team member to step up to achieve a win.
COLUMBUS, OH – JANUARY 7: Ryan McDonagh #27 of the New York Rangers controls the puck during the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 7, 2017, at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
