NEW YORK RANGERS NEWS

Busy in return Shesterkin made 41 saves in Thursday's 8-3 win over the Flyers.

Impact In his first action since suffering a groin injury March 4, Shesterkin was spotted a 6-0 lead early in the second period, which made handling the massive workload he faced much less stressful. Two of the three Philadelphia goals came on the power play, so Shesterkin looked sharp and ready to help with the Rangers' playoff push over the second half of the season.

MARCH 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Four-point night in rout Strome scored a goal and added three power-play assists in Thursday's 8-3 win over the Flyers.

Impact Strome started the scoring 8:01 into the opening frame, kicking off a six-goal outburst in less than 15 minutes of game time for the Rangers. All three of his helpers came on power-play goals by Mika Zibanejad, which were scored consecutively during that 15-minute stretch. The four-point effort stretched Strome's point streak to seven games, and he'll have an excellent opportunity to extend it in Saturday's rematch with the Flyers.

MARCH 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Bags five apples Fox dished out five helpers in Thursday's 8-3 win over the Flyers. Three came on the power play and another while shorthanded.

Impact Fox played a critical role in New York's hot start, which saw the Rangers build a 6-0 lead in the game's first 23 minutes thanks to four Fox assists. All three of his power-play assists were finished off by Mika Zibanejad during that six-goal streak, with Ryan Strome drawing the other helper on each of those goals. The second-year blueliner now has a five-game point streak going, including eight points in the last two games alone. Among the league leaders in both minutes and points among defensemen (26 in 31 games), Fox is already a true No. 1 blueliner.

MARCH 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Posts six-point encore in Philly Zibanejad scored three power-play goals and added three assists -- one shorthanded -- in Thursday's 8-3 win over Philadelphia.

Impact Zibanejad miraculously managed to replicate his previous performance against the Flyers, as he also registered a natural hat trick and six points when these two teams last met March 17. After deflecting home New York's third goal late in the first period, Zibanejad connected on a pair of one-timers with the extra man early in the second to stretch New York's lead to five and complete the natural hat trick. Unfortunately for the talented center, he has only four goals in his other 30 games this season. Still, Zibanejad now has seven goals and eight assists over his last five games thanks to these two six-point outbursts, so it's safe to say he's rolling on all cylinders after a slow start.

MARCH 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Jumps to active roster Kakko was promoted to the active roster Thursday, per CBS.

Impact Kakko scored twice in Monday's win over the Sabres, so he'll look to prove that wasn't a fluke moving forward. The 20-year-old is set to skate on the second line with Ryan Strome and Artemi Panarin.

MARCH 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

No longer in protocol Di Guiseppe cleared the NHL's COVID-19 protocol Thursday, Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today reports.

Impact Di Giuseppe has been in COVID-19 protocol since March 14. He won't play in Thursday's game versus the Flyers, but the 27-year-old winger may have enough time to ramp up his conditioning for Saturday's rematch.

MARCH 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Remains unavailable Howden (COVID-19 protocols) won't play Thursday against the Flyers.

Impact Howden will need to clear the NHL's COVID-19 protocols before rejoining the Rangers, so look for that announcement to precede his return to action. He's picked up five points in 29 games this season.

MARCH 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

AP Sportlight

Sportlight for March 29

MARCH 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

Sportlight for March 27- April 1

MARCH 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

HockeyBuzz.com - Bill Meltzer - Flyers Gameday: 3/25/21 vs. NYR; Phantoms, NCAA Updates NHL Hockey Trade Rumors

MARCH 25, 2021 • HOCKEYBUZZ.COM

HockeyBuzz.com - Bill Meltzer - Flyers Gameday: 3/25/21 vs. NYR NHL Hockey Trade Rumors

MARCH 25, 2021 • HOCKEYBUZZ.COM

From Ann Arbor to New York, Rangers roommates Ryan Lindgren and Adam Fox have an intense familiarity It has become fashionable to consider 23-year-old Rangers pals, and now defensive partners, as one unit.

MARCH 25, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Blues hockey great Bob Plager killed in car accident

Former St. Louis Blues defenseman Bob Plager was killed Wednesday in a car crash in St. Louis

MARCH 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Shesterkin expected to start in net Thursday against Flyers Igor Shesterkin is back and will start in goal Thursday when the Rangers face the Flyers in the opener of the two-game set in Philadelphia....

MARCH 24, 2021 • NEWSDAY.COM

Fantasy trends and hidden gems: Alex Killorn, Kaapo Kakko and more players to boost your playoff hopes Shayna Goldman looks at players, like Alex Killorn and Kaapo Kakko, who can be added to provide a boost to fantasy mangers' postseason push.

MARCH 24, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Starting in Philadelphia Shesterkin will patrol the crease during Thursday's road game versus the Flyers, Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today reports.

Impact Shesterkin will return to action following a 10-game absence due to injury. The 25-year-old netminder will attempt to secure his seventh win of the season in a road matchup with a Philadelphia team that's averaging 3.10 goals per game this campaign, 11th in the NHL.

MARCH 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Set to practice Wednesday Kravtsov is expected to join the Rangers for Wednesday's practice session, Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today reports.

Impact Kravtsov is getting closer and closer to making his NHL debut after being select by New York with the ninth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. The Russian winger will join a talented group of recent draft picks that includes Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko.

MARCH 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Philadelphia hosts New York after Couturier's 2-goal game

Philadelphia hosts the New York Rangers after Sean Couturier scored two goals in the Flyers' 4-3 loss to the Devils

MARCH 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Activated from injured reserve Shesterkin (groin) was activated from injured reserve Tuesday, per CapFriendly.

Impact Shesterkin is expected to practice Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare for a potential return Thursday against the Flyers. The Russian netminder has been out since he was hurt March 4 versus the Devils. With Shesterkin active, Keith Kinkaid returned to the Rangers' taxi squad.

MARCH 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Moves to taxi squad Kakko was assigned to the taxi squad Tuesday, per CapFriendly.

Impact Kakko ended an eight-game point drought with a two-goal effort against the Sabres in Monday's win. The 20-year-old has just four goals and two assists through 24 games this year. Perhaps this is a signal that Kakko's finding his groove.

MARCH 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sent back to taxi squad Kinkaid was assigned to the taxi squad Tuesday, per CapFriendly.

Impact Kinkaid's move to the taxi squad corresponded with the Rangers activating Igor Shesterkin (groin) from injured reserve. This likely means the 31-year-old Kinkaid will return to a depth role rather than drawing into many games -- he's appeared in seven of the Rangers' last nine contests while Shesterkin was out.

MARCH 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Added to taxi squad Kravtsov was added to the Rangers' taxi squad Tuesday, per CapFriendly.

Impact Kravtsov scored 16 goals and added eight assists across 49 KHL games before arriving in New York. The 2018 ninth overall pick has cleared COVID-19 protocol and can start practicing with the team soon. His NHL debut may not be too far away.

MARCH 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Off to minors Huska was assigned to AHL Hartford on Tuesday, per CapFriendly.

Impact In a corresponding move, Igor Shesterkin (groin) was activated from injured reserve. Huska's services as the taxi squad goalie won't be needed if Shesterkin is good to go -- the former can instead resume playing with the Wolf Pack.

MARCH 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Shifts to AHL Reunanen was assigned to AHL Hartford on Tuesday, per CapFriendly.

Impact Reunanen recorded an assist across 8:57 of ice time in his NHL debut last week. However, that was the only game that he played during this stint with the big club. The 2016 fourth-round pick will continue to develop in a more consistent AHL role.

MARCH 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sabres' goalie depth thinned with Hutton sent home for tests

Buffalo Sabres goalie Carter Hutton has been sent home for further testing on a lower-body injury, leaving the slumping team with no experienced presence in net

MARCH 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS