On a night where the Rangers might have played their most complete game of the season, much of the joy from the win has been blunted by what could be an extended absence for Ryan Callahan. In terms of the end results, the Blueshirts prevailed 2-1 over the Flyers to earn their third win in four games and third straight W at home.
Unfortunately, the win is an after-thought because of a potentially serious injury to the captain.
Callahan, who in the second notched the 200th point of his career in scoring to make it 2-0, got tangled up with Max Talbot about five minutes into the final stanza. Both players got caught in a mini-wrestling match with Callahan going to the ground. Talbot signaled almost immediately for the Rangers' training staff and Callahan skated off the ice with him holding his left arm.
It looked like injury occurred when they were holding each other's jerseys and Talbot try to yank his arm free, which resulted in him pulling Cally's arm, causing the injury. While no word was given from the Rangers after the game, which is never a good sign, speculation is that Callahan suffered a dislocated shoulder.
He likely will undergo an MRI on Wednesday to determine the type and severity of the injury. If he did dislocate it, it's possible Callahan could be looking at at least a four week absence and then need to wear a harness when he returns, and that might be a best-case scenario.
With Chris Kreider still out - Pat Leonard reported that he hopefully will skate late this week - the Rangers lack of depth becomes even more stark. If Callahan is out, despite the view by many that Kreider should be sent to the AHL to regain his confidence, he may be thrust back into action.
If Kreider misses more time and/or is sent down, the Rangers don't have many options in the minors as they have 10 first year players there. Kris Newbury has already been up and down and we know what he can do. Maybe Marek Hrivik, if heathy, gets chance. If not, and the Rangers want to call up another bottom-six player, Michael Haley could get a look. I would love JT Miller but don't think he is ready and hard to bring a young player like him into this situation.
GM Glen Sather has to reach out to Daymond Langkow, which to date per Pat Leonard hasn't happened, or call Domonic Moore as we suggested over the weekend. The other option is to play Matt Gilroy over Stu Bickel as a fourth line forward. Obviously, the other option is a trade, but with it being so early in the season, the trade market is not wide open, unless Sather has been working on something already and can finalize it quickly. The Rangers have prospects to deal, so that could be the route we see taken.
If Callahan is out long term, I expect Torts to break up the big trio. Move Hagelin, who was flying tonight, other than his brainless too many men on the ice penalty, back to the left side on the first line. Then shift Gaborik down to the second line and have him play alongside Taylor Pyatt, who can add the grit left lacking from Cally's absence, or Benn Ferriero and Derek Stepan.
Beyond that, it will be a hodge-podge, with Brian Boyle most probably centering either Ferriero or Pyatt as well as Mike Rupp with Jeff Halpern centering Aaron Asham and whoever is added or activated from being a healthy scratch on the fourth line.
In terms of the game, we spoke last week about the things that the Rangers needed to do to win. Forecheck, pressure the opponent in all zones, better puck and player movement, solid special teams and win face offs. All were on display tonight.
The Rangers, until the third, controlled the play with a good portion of it spent in the Philly zone. The first goal came due to good pressure by Pyatt, Ferriero and Boyle, who set a great screen on MDZ's goal. The power play goal came about due to good puck and player movement with a nice move by Nash to feed MDZ, who got the puck to Callahan. On the PK, great work on the 5-on-3 by Halpern and his stick that was in the middle of the zone and by Richards when he came in to kill the 5-on-4.
The Rangers were 28-11 on face offs in the first two periods and finished 40-21 for the game, while also out-hitting Philly 39-31. All good stuff for the Blueshirts.
Overall, it was another solid game as the Rangers round into the form. But the main focus, and rightly so, is the status of "Captain Cally."
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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