New York Rangers Kakko Conditioned For Top Line Minutes Post-Injury

New York Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko made his return from a lower-body injury on Sunday, taking the first shift of the game, registering 16:04 TOI. 

He played 14 minutes on Tuesday and registered his first goal in six games in the Rangers 5-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. 

"I felt a little better today," Kakko said Tuesday postgame. "The first game [a 3-2 win over Washington] wasn't bad. Two wins is the big thing. I was a little tired last game, I felt better today."

The 22-year-old has been recovering since Nov. 27, after his leg folded under him as he hit the boards hard in a 5-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. 

The injury looked like it might have sidelined Kakko for the season. Instead, he's come back and played 30:12 against top NHL talent. 

"Jumping up there, he was out for twenty games. It's tough to jump back in," Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette said.

"You're on a line with Zibanejad and Kreider against top defenders and top lines, which makes it a little more difficult...It's good to have him back."

Kakko's third evaluation on the first line is trial by fire. He's answered the bell, playing his high IQ detail-specific game and finishing his third goal of the season in Tuesday night's 5-2 victory. 

"It's never good to be out of the games. I didn't play well or that much," Kakko said. "I got some time off to think about my game. Hopefully [it's] better than before." 

"He's put in a ton of work to get back into game shape. He's a huge piece for us," Blake Wheeler said, "You want to see him feeling confident and making big plays. We are going to rely on him down the stretch."