New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist could return to the starting lineup on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres after suffering a neck injury on Thursday.
Lundqvist has missed the last two games for the Rangers after colliding with teammate Ryan McDonagh last week. Lundqvist did not dress against the Islanders, making Magnus Hellberg the backup for Antti Raanta. Lundqvist is reportedly making progress from the neck spasms and is considered "day-to-day" with the injury.
Coach Alain Vigneault said that Lundqvist could be close to returning and that the goalie was making progress. Lundqvist's next chance to play would be against the Sabres on Tuesday. This season Lundqvist is 31-17-4 with a 2.31 GAA and a .923 save percentage.
"He's feeling better, still not 100 percent, but is on the right track," said Vigneault. "There's still some pain in the neck, still day to day. His movements still aren't fully fluid, so it'll take a day or two."
Lundqvist was able to skate with the team on Sunday in workouts ahead of the game against the Islanders. It was reported that Lundqvist also took shots during the morning skate. Lundqvist was injured on Thursday against the Penguins after colliding with McDonagh. The goalie felt the officials should have whistled play dead after the collision due to an injury, but they did not call a stoppage.
Lundqvist was frustrated with the officials and opted to throw his own net off its moorings to get a stoppage in play. The Rangers were called for a penalty, and the Penguins scored three goals before the end of the period. Lundqvist was replaced in the game by Raanta, and he has not suited up since for the Rangers.
The Rangers are hoping that Lundqvist can return this week. The Rangers remain in second place in the Metropolitan Division after losing to the Islanders on Sunday. The team is 38-22-6 on the season with 82 points, tied for second overall in the conference with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The team has also been playing without Rick Nash in the lineup, but he could be close to returning after missing 19 games. Nash has been dealing with a bone bruise but was able to skate two days in a row last week. The forward skated for the first time since early February and could return to practice this week.
