Rangers defender Jacob Trouba did not return on Tuesday-evening for the third period of the 5-2 loss against the Devils after sustaining an upper body injury earlier in the game.
If the 26-year-old had to spare some time, the Rangers defense would again be three skaters behind, with Jack Johnson (groin) still going from day to day and K’Andre Miller recently joining him with an upper body injury. . Brendan Smith skated in his first race on Tuesday since he suffered an upper body injury at the beginning of the month.
‘We won’t know until [Wednesday], ”Said coach David Quinn about Trouba after the loss.
The Blueshirts are also without their top scorer Artemi Panarin, who missed his second game in a row since he suffered a lower body injury on February 10 in the loss of 3-2 overtime against the Bruins.
Trouba, in his second season with the Rangers, has recorded two assists through 13 games this season. He mainly skated alongside Miller, but was paired with Smith on Tuesday night in the rookie’s absence.
The Rangers won 36 face-offs in one game of the season, with 36 of 73 out of points (49.3 percent).