The Rangers may have some lineup options for the Eastern Conference Final with everyone practicing without any restrictions.
Health is a big issue at this point in the playoffs for the New York Rangers as they get ready to play in the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers.
Coach Peter Laviolette addressed that issue on Sunday and while he didn’t directly say if everyone would be available for this round, it seems it could very well be headed in that direction.
“Everybody’s out on the ice,” Laviolette said via the New York Post’s Mollie Walker. “Everybody to this point has been out on the ice. As of recently, there’s not been any restrictions.”
Blake Wheeler and Filip Chytil were on the ice for the Rangers during their optional skate on Sunday. Both players were out for large parts of the regular season with their own respective injuries.
Laviolette will have some big decisions to make.
If Wheeler and Chytil are available, Laviolette will have to decide if inserting them into the lineup is a beneficial move while also considering whether to play Matt Rempe or Jonny Brodzinski.
Injuries do occur pretty often in the playoffs, so the more depth the Rangers have the better they will be through their quest for the Stanley Cup.