The usual procedure for players coming back from injury is to skate on their own at first, and then work themselves back into full practices with their teammates. But with only four games remaining in the season, Ryan Callahan did not have time for that.
The Rangers forward, who has been out since March 25 after re-injuring his left knee, skated for the first time since in yesterday’s practice, and could return to the lineup as soon as tonight for a key match against the Sabres in Buffalo.
“It felt good,” Callahan said of his knee after practice. “It’s really crunch time in the season now. . . . You don’t have time to skate by yourself for four days and then see how it feels in practice. It felt good out there, though, and it’s a positive because it didn’t really hurt too much.”
Callahan, who has 19 goals and 18 assists in 74 games, said he was planning to test the knee again during today’s morning skate to see how it responds, and did not rule out playing in tonight’s game.
“I just have to see how it responds tomorrow to skating, if it acts up or just stays the same,” he said. “It’s still just day by day, so I’ll skate again [tonight] and see how it feels.”
Callahan, who wore a brace on the knee, was not expected to practice yesterday. But coach John Tortorella was not surprised to see the right winger back on the ice ahead of schedule.
“You know, it just doesn’t surprise me, him being out there,” Tortorella said. “He’s got a mental toughness about him that’s second to none. I really believe in that, that you can will yourself to get better quicker, and that’s what that guy’s about.”
The alternate captain’s absence from the lineup has not slowed down the Blueshirts, who have picked up seven of eight possible points in the four games he has missed to pull within two points of playoff position in the Eastern Conference.
“They’ve been playing unbelievable,” Callahan said. “It’s fun to watch. Obviously I wanted to be on the ice, but I think the guys responded well.”
The Rangers’ closest competition for eighth place in the East, the Flyers, who have one fewer game remaining than the Blueshirts, play tonight in Toronto.
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Brian Boyle (left ankle) skated on his own after practice. Sean Avery (knee) did not practice.