Quick update on Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh (upper-body) and forward Chris Kreider (hand), from NHL.com’s Dan Rosen:
Ryan McDonagh and Chris Kreider on the ice at MSG for the Rangers optional morning skate.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) April 8, 2014
Vigneault says he's 50-50 on whether McDonagh will play before playoffs. Kreider has a cast on so he is out indefinitely.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) April 8, 2014
Neither player was made available to the media.
Of the two, McDonagh has been most key to the Rangers’ success this season. The 24-year-old has emerged as New York’s best blue-liner, with 43 points in 77 games while logging almost 25 minutes a night. By the sounds of it, he’ll be ready for the playoffs, if not sooner.
Kreider, technically still a rookie, has 17 goals in 66 games, and that’s nothing to sneeze at either. Unfortunately for the Rangers, he seems like a long shot to be ready for the first game of the first round, which is just over a week away.
Kreider only has a black brace around his left wrist, not wearing a glove.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) April 8, 2014