Rangers’ Not on the Defensive

 

Patrick Hoffman (HV)

 

If the New York Rangers were not experiencing enough defensive troubles during the past couple of weeks, they will now be without one of their most consistent defenseman for three to four weeks.

 

During the Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins game on March 1, Rangers’ defenseman Fedor Tyutin suffered a sprained MCL early in the second period and an MRI exam on Friday, March 2 confirmed the injury.

 

Tyutin, 23, was quietly having a solid season. He has ranked second on the team with 146 hits and has two goals and 12 assists.

Paired with defenseman Darius Kasparaitis last season, Tyutin really learned the physical part of the game while also learning how to take care of things in his own zone. He has rarely been caught out of position, has used the boards well and has also been more successful than other struggling Rangers’ defensemen with making outlet passes.

 

This is certainly a tough loss for the Rangers as the team continues to struggle with holding onto leads. Out of the teams’ last four games, the Rangers have blown a two goal lead three times and in their last three games, the team has allowed four shorthanded goals. Losing one of their better defensemen certainly will not help matters much.

 

It was also reported on March 2 that Rangers’ defenseman Darius Kasparaitis, currently with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League, was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons due to shortness of breath. He has since then been released from the hospital.

 

 

Photo: Fedor Tyutin (No. 51) from NY Rangers © Andris Jansons (HV)