WASHINGTON — Mats Zuccarello, who has become an important part of the Rangers’ rotation since re-signing with the organization on March 28, became an impending Group II restricted free agent rather than an impending Group VI unrestricted free agent by playing in Thursday night’s Game 1, 3-1 defeat to the Capitals.
As a 25-year-old, Zuccarello would have been unrestricted under terms of the collective bargaining agreement if he finished the year having played fewer than 69 NHL games over the course of the first three seasons of his career.
Thursday night marked the Game 69 threshold, meaning the Rangers will retain the rights to the Norwegian, who played 21:43, fourth highest among club forwards.
* Brian Boyle participated in the morning skate while joining his teammates on the ice for the first time since sustaining a right knee injury in Philadelphia on April 16, but did not play last night. The injury sidelined him for the final six games of the regular season.
Boyle, obviously following orders, gave no indication whether he believes he will be able to rejoin the Blueshirts during the first round.
“It felt good. It was positive,” he said. “I’m trying to feel as good as I can and get back as fast as I can, but I’m not the doctor. … It’s the playoffs. I want to get out there as quickly as I can.”
Defenseman Marc Staal, meanwhile, stood by his previous pledges not to establish a timetable regarding a return from the right eye injury that has sidelined him since March 5.
“I’m not going to speculate,” he said. “When I feel like I’ll be able to help the team win and be successful, that’s when I’ll get back on the ice. … Hopefully that will be sooner than later.”
* The Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin had five shots and scored once on the power play in 19:30, for the most part lining up on right wing matched against Rangers left defenseman Ryan McDonagh.
“I lost him a couple of times,” McDonagh said. “I have to be more aware. Me, personally, I have to be better.”
* Steve Eminger was credited with a club-high seven hits in 9:56 of ice while Zuccarello had six hits among the club’s 41. … Rick Nash got 23:04 of ice, including 17:00 in the second and third periods, to lead Rangers forwards. … Derick Brassard, who had a difficult night, played just four shifts worth 3:49 in the third. … Chris Kreider struggled through two periods, but was able to create open ice in the third on the rush.
* The Rangers have not won a series in which they have dropped the opener since the 1997 second round against the Devils, losing four such best-of-seven’s since their 2006 return to the playoffs following a seven-season absence…. Lundqvist and the Blueshirts have lost eight of their last nine playoff games in Washington since taking the first two of the 2009 first round, a series they lost in seven after being up 3-1. Lundqvist’s career playoff record is 15-21