Ryan McDonagh, the Rangers’ No. 1 defenseman, continued his climb back toward the lineup on Wednesday, practicing with the team while wearing a non-contact yellow jersey.
McDonagh will miss his fourth straight game on Thursday when the Blueshirts host the last-overall Sabres, as he is still recovering from the left-shoulder injury suffered April 1 in Vancouver. Coach Alain Vigneault had said McDonagh would need at least one full practice, with contact, before being placed back in.
That could come Friday in preparation for the regular-season finale in Montreal on Saturday, although Vigneault was still unsure if he would play McDonagh in that game even if he were ready.
Tuesday morning, Vigneault called that possibility “50-50.” Continuing his coyness concerning injuries around playoff time — including McDonagh not being made available to the media — he stuck with that assessment.
“We’ll still say we’re 50-50,” Vigneault said. “I still think we’re pretty good.”
There was one tidbit of information Vigneault did disclose, and that was there is a chance Henrik Lundqvist won’t play in Montreal, a place where he has historically struggled.
“I know he’s playing [Thursday],” Vigneault said, “and if I was a betting man, in Montreal, I’d say it’s 50-50.”
Amidst much laughter, he then left the interview room.
Martin St. Louis has just one goal — short-handed — since joining the Rangers at the March 5 trade deadline. He had arguably his best game on Tuesday, notching three assists, and Vigneault thinks St. Louis is contributing in many ways other than on the score sheet.
“I think an experienced guy like Marty is going to rub off on a lot of our players,” Vigneault said of the 38-year-old. “Marty has become the player he has become because of his work ethic, because of his attitude and his commitment to the game. … You can improve at any age, and Marty is an example. I’m confident he’s going to keep improving, also.”
Vigneault’s former team, the Canucks, fired general manager Mike Gillis Tuesday and hired former player Trevor Linden to replace him Wednesday. As former Rangers coach John Tortorella hangs on to his job by a thread there, Vigneault was asked to comment on the situation yet again.
“I’m not going to comment on that, I’m not there,” Vigneault said. “I’m here in New York, and I’m going to focus on that.”