All signs are pointing to the Rangers having defenseman Marc Staal back in their lineup for Thursday night’s game against the Maple Leafs in Toronto.
Staal missed Wednesday night’s 5-3 loss to the Blackhawks at the Garden as he was with his wife, Lindsay, as she gave birth the couple’s second child, a daughter named Emily Jennifer. Staal was a game-time decision, as labor was induced on Wednesday morning but continued into the start of the game.
“I would say yes he will be there [Thursday against the Maple Leafs],” coach Alain Vigneault said.
Captain Ryan McDonagh returned to the lineup after a four-game absence following a concussion suffered back on Feb. 6 as the result of a gloved sucker punch from the Flyers’ Wayne Simmonds.
McDonagh was one of just two left-handed defensemen in the lineup, and played 24:06, finishing with a plus-2 rating.
“I thought he was all right,” Vigneault said. “He played a lot of minutes since right now we only have two natural left-handed [defensemen]. He made some good plays and he’ll be better [Thursday].”
McDonagh said he had no ill-effects from the absence.
“I felt really good,” he said.
After missing Tuesday’s practice with an illness, defenseman Dan Boyle switched from his natural right side to play the left and scored a power-play goal 2:17 into the third period to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead. It was the first 5-on-4 power-play goal Boyle has been on for since Dec. 20.
Boyle was often a healthy scratch at the beginning of the season, but since Nov. 30, he has been scratched just once in 30 games. Now with 26 games remaining in the regular season and the Blueshirts hoping for a long postseason run, Boyle said he isn’t worried about staying fresh.
“I don’t really think about it, to be honest with you,” Boyle said.
Rookie defenseman Dylan McIlrath had a very difficult night, and got just two shifts in the third period for a total of 11:10.
Almost assuredly backup goalie Antti Raanta will get the start on the second leg of this back-to-back on Thursday night. Raanta’s most recent outing was Friday’s disheartening 5-4 overtime loss to the Kings, when he was rather emotional about his poor performance after the game.
“You just have to make yourself sure that whenever you get the call, you’re ready,” Raanta said Wednesday morning.
Forward Rick Nash missed his 10th straight game with the bone bruise in his left leg. He is supposed to be reevaluated in the next few days and is still considered “week-to-week.”