A game after the New York Rangers had Ryan Lindgren’s back, the defenseman found a way to repay the favor as the Blue Shirts tied the best-of-seven series with the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. Lindgren didn’t have a goal in Tuesday’s win, but his fingerprints were all over two crucial goals.
On a Rangers team that has scrapped its way through the postseason and battled when the chips have seemed down, Lindgren has seemed to encompass what this New York squad has been about.
“You could see it from the first game he got back, just battling, competing,” fellow defenseman Adam Fox said. “You can see when he gets going offensively, too, shooting the puck, that’s what it’s going to take, though. We’ve talked about it. He knows he’s able to do that, has the confidence to jump in (the play). When you’re battling, giving 100 percent, even at the end of last game he’s not taking anything from anyone, he’s giving it right back.
“That stuff trickles down. You can see the energy he brings, and it has an effect on the whole team.”
It’s safe to say that there has been a noticeable difference at times when he has been in and out of the lineup.
Lindgren missed Game 2, 3 and 4 in the first round against Pittsburgh with a lower-body injury after he blocked a shot. New York fell behind in that series 3-1 while he was out, but rallied back to win three straight games and advance to the second round.
Lindgren said that he’s been feeling good since his Game 5 return last round, but declined to expand on the ailment that bothered him and only thanked the trainers for their work to get him back on the ice.
“You never want to be sitting out, especially during playoff time,” he said. “But you know, you’ve got to be smart too, and take your time make sure that when you do get out there, you’re feeling good and you can play to the best of your ability. So like I said, our trainers are awesome. They helped me out a ton.”
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He saw 20:01 of ice time on Tuesday night and it’s safe to say that he’s likely going to see as much on Thursday in Carolina when they play Game 5. Since his return, the defenseman has been averaging 20:59 in ice time for the Blue Shirt.
Game 5 takes place on Thursday at 7 p.m. at PNC Arena.
