The New York Rangers had injury added to insult on Thursday in their home game against the San Jose Sharks. The Rangers lost the game to the only winless team remaining in the NHL.
On top of the embarrassing home loss, the Rangers lost enforcer Matt Rempe following a less-than-stellar bout against Sharks tough guy Ryan Reaves. Here’s a look:
The initial report is that Rempe left the game with an upper-body injury. Given the tussle with Reaves, “upper-body” could encompass a wide range of issues.
Following the game, Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said this about Rempe:
“He’s being evaluated right now for an upper-body injury.”
The comments, as quoted by the NY Post, don’t sound too encouraging. There’s no telling what the precise nature of the injury could be. Injuries of the upper-body persuasion can range from a minor tweak to a shoulder to a concussion to a separated shoulder.
While it doesn’t seem like the Rangers’ enforcer sustained a massive injury, it’s frustrating nonetheless. Through nine games this season, Rempe’s role with the team has expanded. He’s gone from a one-dimensional bottom-dwelling tough guy to a serviceable bottom-six forward.
He no longer looks like a bull in a China shop. Rempe has continued to mature as the confidence the Rangers have placed in him rises.
The unfortunate injury looks like a setback, at least for the time being. Rempe is day-to-day and hopefully left the game due to precautionary measures.
Rangers Waste Raddysh Hat Trick
On the ice, the Rangers and Sharks slugged out a 6-5 decision, with the Rangers getting the short end of the stick.
Will Smith had a four-point night in the winning effort. Macklin Celebrini got five points himself to lead the way for the Sharks.
But it was Taylor Raddysh’s hat trick that the Rangers wasted on Thursday night. Raddysh was on fire for New York, tying the game midway through the third. Raddysh’s second of the night, a shorthanded marker, gave the Rangers a 4-3 lead.
However, the Blueshirts blue the lead, only to recover it. But it was the Sharks’ youthful resilience that overcame the talented, if veteran, club.
Blueshirts Remain Winless at Home
So, losing the game wasn’t bad enough. Losing Rempe was also a gut punch (no pun intended). But the most insulting part of the entire ordeal was seeing the Rangers remain winless at MSG.
Yes, the club got a point out of the game. But the overtime loss keeps the goose egg in the Rangers’ win column at home.
The club will have to wait a few more games to get that elusive first home win as they’ll hit the road for a three-game West Coast swing. The Rangers will open the trip in Calgary on Sunday against the Flames, then play Canucks next Tuesday night in Vancouver, and face the Oilers next Thursday. The trip ends with a tilt in Seattle against the Kraken on November 1.
The Rangers will get their next chance to notch a win at home when they face the Carolina Hurricanes on November 4. Hopefully, the West Coast trip will help the Blueshirts reset and regain focus while they are away from the bright light of Broadway.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Rangers Sustain another Injury, Waste Hat Trick appeared first on Heavy Sports.