LOS ANGELES — It has been a long, will-testing road for Marc Staal, one that will make a significant stop on Staples Center ice Wednesday night when the Rangers play the Kings in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals.
There might not be a Rangers player more appreciative of the chance to play in the finals than Staal, who last year thought his playing career was in jeopardy after a serious eye injury.
In March of last season, a slap shot by Philadelphia’s Kimmo Timonen deflected off the stick of teammate Jacob Voracek and hit Staal — derailing his season. Staal, who played just 47 games the year before, when he was dogged by injuries, played in just 21 games last season.
Staal tried to come back in Game 3 of the Rangers opening-round loss to the Capitals, and he felt lost.
“I just wasn’t ready,’’ the Rangers defenseman recalled on Tuesday. “I thought I was. I had skated for three weeks after being off for about two months, but once I got into the game … ’’
Staal knew he wasn’t right.
“Everyone said I didn’t play bad, but I knew that if I kept playing I was either going to hurt myself or — most importantly — I was going to hurt my team with the way I felt on the ice,’’ he said. “I just didn’t feel comfortable at all. I needed the summer to get readjusted.’’
And readjust he did. Staal has been playing some of the best hockey of his career, as this playoff run has bled into June.
“I’ve been around him for eight years and he’s such a great teammate. He’s a very good leader or us. It’s great to see him be in this situation after everything he went through.’’
Staal is soaking it all in, taking nothing for granted. Because of that, his appreciation for being in the Cup finals is heightened.
“You obviously appreciate being in the Stanley Cup final anytime, but I’ve learned not to take health for granted,’’ Staal said. “Things can turn on you pretty quick. I went through the first four years of my NHL career without being scathed at all. I had a great year with this team this year. It’s been a lot of fun to get back to the level I’m used to playing at. And now to get to go the finals I consider myself very lucky.’’
Fellow defenseman Ryan McDonagh said “mentally, it’s an incredible challenge to overcome’’ for Staal.
“There were a lot of long nights, I’m sure, with friends and family trying to support him,’’ McDonagh said. “To get the news that he was going to be able to play again, he was so excited. He was playing at a such a high level [before the injury] that we understood if he ever got back to what he was accustomed to he would really help our team. And now you can see why we’re here and have this opportunity — because of scenarios like that.’’