Michael Del Zotto is returning to the Whale to ply his trade in the AHL following his two-game return to the Rangers as a replacement for the injured Dan Girardi, but not without encouraging words from coach John Tortorella.
“Michael played well. You could see he was a little nervous, but I like the way he handled himself off the ice and he stayed within himself on the ice,” Tortorella said after Del Zotto went minus two in 17:33 in the Rangers’ 4-3 Garden defeat to the Panthers. “There were some mistakes, everyone makes mistakes, but he’s going through the process.
“I think it’ll be good for him,” he said. “Eventually he’ll get it the right way.”
Girardi is expected to recover from the rib-cage muscle injury that sidelined him the last two games. Ryan Callahan should be able to return from the broken hand that’s kept him out of the last 19 games since sustaining the injury on Dec. 15. Vinny Prospal, who has been out all season with a knee issue that required surgery the first week of October, was surprisingly activated from injured reserve.
As such, in addition to Del Zotto, the Blueshirts assigned recent call-ups Kris Newbury (seven games), Chad Kolarik (four), Evgeny Grachev (two) and Brodie Dupont (one) to the Whale, who have two games this weekend.
Even if Prospal is somehow able to play Tuesday — the veteran has yet to take part in a single contact drill, even as he skated with the club throughout the last road trip — the Rangers will need to make a recall following the break. Presumably that would be Newbury.
“[Going down] is not a negative on any of them,” Tortorella said. “What they did here helping the club only enhances their situation.”
Mats Zuccarello, who had three assists last night to give him 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 17 games, deservingly remains on the roster.
“He’s brought a lot to the club,” Tortorella said. “The thing I love about him is that he thinks he belongs here. He knows he’s a good player. It’s refreshing to see.
“He’s earned this break here.”