New York Rangers Daily: Connor Mackey’s opportunity, Maple Leafs breathe sigh of relief
After two days off, the New York Rangers begin another three-games-in-four-days stretch when they host the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Then there’s a three-game road trip begins in St. Louis against the Blues on Sunday and continues in Nashville against the Predators on Tuesday.
The Rangers will be without top-four defenseman K’Andre Miller for those games. Miller was placed on injured reserve Friday with an upper-body issue. That means Connor Mackey takes his place alongside Braden Schneider on the second pair.
It’s a big opportunity for the rugged 28-year-old, who’s played 40 NHL games, though only one with the Rangers. That one left a big impression, though. Mackey logged 16:27 TOI and got into a heavyweight scrap with Brady Tkachuk to spark the Rangers past the Ottawa Senators when they were going through a rough patch last Jan. 27.
Mackey has six points (two goals, four assists) and 29 penalty minutes in 22 games with Hartford of the American Hockey League this season.
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Here are our three things to watch for when the Rangers host the Kings on Saturday, with an emphasis on Mackey and the Blueshirts depth on defense being tested.
Brett Berard remains in the Rangers lineup, and deservedly so, details our Ben Lefkowitz.
By the way, have you paid attention at all to Jacob Trouba’s first three games with the Anaheim Ducks? If not, check out our story here. It’s not very pretty.
Speaking of ex-Rangers, J.T. Miller is back playing with the Vancouver Canucks, but not talking about his 10-game leave of absence for personal reasons.
NHL news
With Mathew Brazal and Anthony Duclair set to return after long injury layoffs, the Islanders placed forwards Oliver Wahlstrom and Pierre Engvall on waivers.
The Toronto Maple Leafs can breathe a sigh of relief. Goalie Anthony Stolarz is day to day with a lower-body injury sustained in a win against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. It looked bad at the time. Stolarz didn’t practice Friday but might skate Saturday.
Jack Campbell is back in the NHL. The 32-year-old goalie was recalled by the Detroit Red Wings from their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids roughly one month after exiting the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. He played only five NHL games last season with the Edmonton Oilers, none since Nov. 4, 2023.
Solid bottom-six forward Keegan Kolesar signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract extension with the Vegas Golden Knights. He could’ve been a UFA next summer.
The Minnesota Wild claimed veteran defenseman Travis Dermott off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers.
The Ottawa Senators shut out the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 in the only game on the NHL schedule Friday. Linus Ullmark made 32 saves in the win.
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