The Rangers will be without Adam Sykora for an extended stretch after the 22-year-old forward suffered a lower-body injury that is expected to keep him out four to five months.
Injury ends Sykora’s push for opening-night spot
Sykora was hurt in the opening period of New York’s 3-2 preseason loss to the New Jersey Devils on Monday at Prudential Center. He was off balance when Devils defenseman Mikael Diotte delivered a hit in the corner.
The Rangers forward went awkwardly into the boards and required help leaving the ice. The injury removes a player who had arrived in camp with a legitimate chance to earn a place on the opening-night roster.
Strong finish put Sykora in the mix
Sykora had given the Rangers something to consider after a productive late-season recall from Hartford. He posted four points, including three goals and one assist, in 11 NHL games last season.
- Age: 22
- NHL production last season: three goals and one assist in 11 games
- Hartford production: 12 goals and 17 assists in 62 AHL games
- Total Hartford points: 29
- Expected absence: four to five months
With Sykora sidelined, the Rangers will have to move forward without one of the younger forwards competing to turn a late-season opportunity into a regular NHL job.
Preseason closes with two New York-area games
New York has two exhibition games remaining before the schedule turns to games that count.
- Thursday: Rangers vs. Devils at Madison Square Garden
- Friday: Rangers at New York Islanders at UBS Arena
- Tuesday: Rangers at Boston Bruins, TD Garden, 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
The Boston game will mark the Rangers’ regular-season opener, while Sykora begins a lengthy recovery timetable from the injury sustained in New Jersey.
