DENVER — Calamity apparently was averted when Ryan McDonagh’s left shoulder took the brunt of Alexandre Burrows’ wicked hit in the final minute of the Rangers’ 3-1 victory in Vancouver on Tuesday.
Though the defenseman left the arena with his left arm in a sling and was sidelined for Thursday’s match against the Avalanche, coach Alain Vigneault said McDonagh’s status is “day-to-day.”
“I don’t think it will be very long,” the coach said following the morning skate.
McDonagh did not participate in the skate, having left the rink after receiving treatment earlier in the day. This marked just the third game of a possible 249 he had missed since his NHL career commenced with the Rangers midway through the 2010-11 season.
McDonagh missed one game last year after his face was planted into the glass by Max Pacioretty and one with a knee issue late in his rookie season.
Vigneault said he did not second-guess the circumstances under which the injury occurred. The Canucks, who had pulled their goaltender trailing by two goals, had four imposing forwards on the ice, including the physically-inclined Burrows and the brutish Zack Kassian.
When McDonagh — who had been smashed to the ice earlier in the match by Daniel Sedin, of all people — retreated to play the puck behind the goal line, he was left vulnerable and spun into the Burrows’ hit from the blind side after first being checked from the left by Kassian.
The defenseman crumpled to the ice and skated off in obvious distress with 43.8 seconds remaining in the match.
“They pulled their goaltender and were playing their top guys and we were trying to protect the lead,” the coach said. “Two of their physical players were going for the puck … sometimes stuff happens.”
John Moore, who had missed the previous six games while recovering from a concussion he sustained March 21 in Columbus, rejoined the lineup. Moore took McDonagh’s spot on Dan Girardi’s left side during the morning line rushes, though Vigneault said he would mix-and-match throughout the contest.
“Injuries are a part of the game,” Vigneault said. “Obviously Mac plays 25-plus big minutes against the big lines and on the PP and PK, and we’ll try to spread those around.
“I’m confident the group can handle it.”