The New York Rangers are fighting for home ice advantage in the playoffs, and they are about to get some reinforcements. Rick Nash and Henrik Lundqvist are both expected to return to the team this weekend after missing time with injuries.
Lundqvist is likely going to start on Saturday when the Rangers take on the Detroit Red Wings. Coach Alain Vigneault spoke to the media and said that the goaltender is "good to go" after sitting out for the past three games. Nash also may return, but there is a chance that he could sit out for another game. Vigneault said that Nash has a "very good chance" to play on Saturday.
Nash has missed 20 games for the Rangers while dealing with a bone bruise in his leg. He was cleared for contact in practice, and that is a good sign that he will be back on the ice in game action soon. Lundqvist was injured last week after colliding with teammate Ryan McDonagh against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The goalie was suffering from neck spasms over the past week, but those have subsided.
"I feel good about the progress," Lundqvist said. "I would say I'm pretty close to 100 percent. I don't think you ever feel 100 percent. There's always something going on with your body, but I feel pretty close to recovered."
Lundqvist said that he hoped to come back sooner than the weekend, but that the team did not want to rush things with his injury. He missed an extended stretch of time last year after a puck struck him in the throat, leaving Cam Talbot to start for the Rangers. While this injury was not nearly as serious, the team felt it best to be cautious with the All-Star goalie.
Nash had a career-high 42 goals last season, and while he is off that pace this year with just 12 goals, the Rangers would love to have his scoring touch back on the ice. The team may have a slightly different role for Nash now after adding Eric Staal at the trade deadline, but he remains one of the top forwards for the Rangers. Ideally, the team would like Nash to get back on the ice ahead of the playoffs to get back to game speed, and it looks like he will be able to do that.
The Rangers are second in the Metropolitan Division behind the Washington Capitals, who currently are leading the NHL with 103 points. The Rangers are trying to hold off the New York Islanders in the standings, as they are just two points back heading into Friday's schedule.
