The New York Rangers were dealt a major blow to their playoff hopes when star defenseman Adam Fox left Tuesday’s game against the Islanders with an upper-body injury. He’s now heading to injured reserve.
Fox managed to get an assist and play nearly 18 minutes before leaving in the third period. While the team is hopeful he’ll be back for the final stretch of the season, his absence couldn’t come at a worse time.
The Rangers have been struggling to keep pace in the playoff race. They’re sitting just two points out of the last wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a 29-25-4 record.
It’s quite a fall for a team that was celebrating a "Regular Season Champions" banner at Madison Square Garden just last year.
Fox has been one of the few bright spots for the Rangers this season. He’s put up 48 points in 58 games, including five goals, while averaging over 23 minutes of ice time per night.
The analytics aren’t looking good for New York. MoneyPuck gives them just a 43.4% chance of making the playoffs – worse odds than both Ottawa and Detroit.
To fill the gap, the Rangers have called up Matthew Robertson from their AHL team in Hartford. The 2019 second-round pick has been solid in the minors, scoring 18 points in 47 games.
This could be Robertson’s big chance to make his NHL debut, though it’s not exactly how he probably dreamed it would happen.
The injury might force GM Chris Drury’s hand as the trade deadline approaches. The Rangers, who’ve made the playoffs three straight years, might now have to keep defensemen Ryan Lindgren and K’Andre Miller instead of trading them.
They could also start shopping for a right-handed defenseman on the rental market to help weather Fox’s absence.
The next few weeks will be crucial for the Rangers’ playoff hopes. They’ll need someone to step up big time to fill Fox’s skates.
