Things are looking better for the New York Rangers. Two reasons: Henrik Lundqvist dressed for Thursday's game and Martin St. Louis was skating.
Both players are completing injury recoveries. As they do, the Rangers are closing in on locking up a berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs and a top-two seed as Metropolitan Division champions.
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First, Lundqvist. Thursday marked the first game active with the Rangers after Jan. 31's serious and dangerous neck injury. Cam Talbot was the scheduled starter, and rookie goalie Mackenzie Skapski and his glorious name headed to AHL Hartford to clear a roster spot for Lundqvist.
"I'm very happy with the amount of work he got today and how he looked in goal," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault told Newsday. "He looked real sharp. It's good to have him back."
Lundqvist went on injured reserve on Feb. 6, with Talbot starting 16 of the 24 games King Henrik missed. The Rangers didn't miss a beat during that time, going 17-4-3 and continuing their hold on the division lead over the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Still, Lundqvist will return as No. 1 when he's ready.
"There's no doubt that Cam has done extremely well for us," Vigneault told media members on Wednesday. "Your question is a valid one considering how well he's played. But if you look at the body of work that Hank has done for his team over the years, there's no doubt he's our No. 1 guy. And moving forward he will be our No. 1 guy."
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Expect Lundqvist to make his next start this weekend. The Rangers visit the Boston Bruins on Saturday and on Sunday are at home against the Washington Capitals.
As for St. Louis, Thursday found him on the ice for an hour, skating and taking shots against Lundqvist. A knee injury stopped St. Louis' season on March 15.
Though he won't play against the Sens — Thursday marked his fifth consecutive game out of action — St. Louis can see the end of his rehab.
"I'm very optimistic the way it's progressed the past four-five days," he told the Rangers website Blueshirts United. "We're doing everything we can for me to get back. To get out there today makes you realize how close you are and how far you are. I've never really had injuries, knock on wood, so it's tough for me to gauge it because I can't compare it to anything; but I was encouraged how I felt out there."
Friday is a travel day for the Rangers, which will give St. Louis and trainers a chance to evaluate his sore knee. Beyond that, neither St. Louis nor the team are sure what happens next.