Ryan Lindgren leaves Rangers game against Islanders with gruesome leg injury
Ryan Lindgren sustained a gruesome injury to his left leg in the second period of the New York Rangers 5-2 win against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden on Sunday afternoon.
Lindgren’s leg twisted awkwardly during a battle behind the Rangers net with Islanders forward J.G. Pageau at 15:39 of the second. He fell to the ice, immediately grabbed his leg and screamed out in pain. The official blew the play dead after the Rangers skated the puck to center ice.
After a couple minutes, Lindgren was helped to the dressing room. He didn’t return to the game and coach Peter Laviolette said postgame that Lindgren was being evaluated for a lower-body injury.
“It sucks. Especially a warrior like that, who’s played through so many injuries, to see him stay down like that, it’s usually where he stays down for a second and pops right back up,” center Jonny Brodzinski said postgame. “It’s tough to see him go down.”
Before the injury, Lindgren assisted on Will Cuylle’s goal at 10:14 of the second period that gave New York a 2-1 lead at the time.
Related: Early Rangers candidates for 2023-24 Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award
Ryan Lindgren sustains leg injury for Rangers against Islanders
The Rangers are already down a defenseman. Jacob Trouba has missed six games with a lower-body injury and is expected to be out up to three weeks.
Zac Jones has played all six games in Trouba’s absence. Should Lindgren be sidelined, the Rangers would turn to Chad Ruhwedel to fill in. The 33-year-old has yet to make his Rangers debut after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins before the trade deadline.
Lindgren has had his fair share of injuries over the years. The 26-year-old has played 63 games or fewer in three of his five NHL seasons. However, he’s missed only two games this season.
A pending restricted free agent at the of the season, Lindgren won the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award in 2022-23, and has 13 points (two goals, 11 assists), 100 hits and 88 blocked shots in 66 games this season.
The Rangers are off Monday and then host the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.
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