Rangers ahead Blake Wheeler injured his proper leg halfway by the primary interval of Thursday’s 7-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens and needed to be helped off the ice in New York.
New York later stated Wheeler was dominated out for the remainder of the sport with a lower-body harm.
Coach Peter Laviolette stated after the sport that Wheeler can be evaluated additional, with an replace offered on Friday. The 37-year-old proper wing signed a one-year contract with the Rangers as a free agent final summer time after 12 seasons with Winnipeg.
“He is a veteran participant who got here right here for a motive,″ Laviolette stated. “To see one thing like that occur, that is robust.”
Wheeler was knocked down alongside the boards by Montreal defenseman Jayden Struble behind the Canadiens internet on the 11-minute mark. Wheeler fell backwards and his proper leg bent at an unnatural angle.
He could not put any weight on the leg when he tried to stand up and was assisted from the ice by teammates on the Zamboni entrance to the left of Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault. A stretcher was ready simply contained in the runway.
Wheeler has 9 objectives and 12 assists this season. He has appeared in all 54 of New York’s video games and had been enjoying on the highest line with heart Mika Zibanejad and left wing Chris Kreider. Wheeler has performed 1,172 profession video games, beginning as a rookie with Boston in 2008-09.
“You by no means need to see a teammate and a pal go down like that,″ Zibanejad stated. “I clearly really feel for him, not simply on-ice impression however off ice as properly.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.