Rangers get big win, but may have paid steep price with Adam Fox, K’Andre Miller injuries
There was plenty for the New York Rangers to feel good about following their 5-1 road win against the New York Islanders on Tuesday at UBS Arena. However, the positive vibes were tempered due to injuries sustained by, arguably, their two most important defensemen.
K’Andre Miller, who holds down the left side on the second defense pair and is an important penalty killer, exited the game in the second period with a lower-body injury. Even worse, top-pair defenseman Adam Fox, a former Norris Trophy winner, left early in the third period with an upper-body injury and also didn’t return.
“They’re being evaluated right now,” is all Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said postgame.
Though hard to tell when or how exactly Miller was injured, it was clear that Fox was hurt at 3:16 of the third. Tangled up defending in front of his own goal, Fox fell hard to the ice, landing on his left side. He immediately got up, skated off the ice and headed straight to the dressing room in obvious pain.
Though it’s speculative, it appeared Fox injured his shoulder or perhaps collarbone. To add insult to injury, the 27-year-old was penalized for hooking on the play. Rookie forward Brennen Othmann served the penalty since Fox was unable to remain in the game.
If Fox is out for any length of time, that would be a crushing blow to the Rangers. He entered Tuesday leading the Rangers with 23:20 average TOI, playing on the top pair with Ryan Lindgren and serving as their power-play quarterback.
Earlier in the game, Fox assisted on Jonny Brodzinski’s second goal of the first period, extending his point streak to seven games. He has 48 points, including 43 assists, in 58 games this season, among the League leaders for defensemen in each category.
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Rangers ‘really stepped up in their place’ after Adam Fox, K’Andre Miller injuries
Miller played only two shifts in the second period, none after the 6:19 mark. He played just 10:13 on Tuesday and began play second behind Fox on the Rangers averaging 21:57 TOI. Though his point total is way down this season — 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 51 games — Miller is extremely valuable to the Rangers.
The Rangers survived losing Fox and Miller in the same game. Doing so for an extended stretch in the midst of a tight playoff race is something else altogether. The Rangers are in a three-way tie for ninth in the Eastern Conference, two points out of the second wild card.
“It’s tough when you lose a couple of key players like that, but I thought the guys really stepped up in their place,” Laviolette said.
The Rangers have Zac Jones as their seventh defenseman. He just returned from a conditioning stint with Hartford of the American Hockey League and has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 28 games with the Rangers.
Jones is a left-hand shot, so it’s possible he could take Miller’s spot or play on the third pair if Urho Vaakanainen — who had an NHL career-high three points against the Islanders — moves up.
Defensemen currently playing in Hartford with NHL experience are Chad Ruhwedel, Erik Brannstrom, Connor Mackey and Casey Fitzgerald. Brandon Scanlin played one NHL game last season and Matthew Robertson is looking to make his NHL debut after the Rangers selected him in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft.
Braden Schneider is key here because he’s a right shot who can play on either side. If Fox misses any time, Schneider likely would move up to either the top pair or second pair (if Will Borgen took Fox’s place) on the right side.
Schneider was also hurt in the game Tuesday. He blocked a shot with his knee on the third-period penalty kill during Fox’s minor and appeared to be in terrible pain remaining on the ice to defend until he finally could exit the ice. Fortunately, Schneider returned and the Rangers finished the game with four defensemen.
“Big, gutsy effort by all four of those guys back there,” said forward Jonny Brodzinski, who scored two goals and finished with three points.
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