The 2015-16 season hasn’t gone according to plan for Rangers forward Rick Nash. Not only has he struggled to fill the net, but now he’s also suffered an injury in practice.
The 31-year-old was forced to leave Thursday’s on-ice session at the University of Denver after he felt his back tighten up.
“I twisted it and it kind of locked up on me after I took a shot,” Nash told the New York Post. “I felt really good the first three drills, then I just threw it out.”
He’s considered questionable for Friday’s game against the Avalanche.
Nash will continue to receive treatment throughout the day. He and the Rangers will then decide if he can suit up against Colorado.
The sniper has just one goal in 12 games this season, and as you can tell from the video below, his lone tally didn’t even enter the opposition’s net.
If Nash can’t play, expect forward Emerson Etem to replace him on New York’s top line.
Etem joined the Rangers in an off-season trade with the Anaheim Ducks. He’s served as a healthy scratch in all but three games this season, but head coach Alain Vingneault believes he can be an offensive contributor if given the right opportunity.
“He’s a young player, going through the process who was probably pegged as more of an offensive player [than he’s been],” said Vigneault. “If you want guys to succeed, you have to put them in positions where they have that chance.”