New York Rangers' Mats Zuccarello suffered a hand injury in Norway's 3-1 loss to Austria in their final Group B preliminary match and was scratched from the roster for Tuesday's 4-0 sacrifice to the host Russians - and now the focus lands on how severe Zuccarello's injury actually is.
"The Hobbit", as Zuccarello is affectionately referred to by fans of the Blue Shirts due to his demure 5' 7". 180 pound frame, has been as productive as you'd want from a third line right winger, leading his team in points with 43 in 58 games played on 15 goals and 28 dimes, his slick passing regularly drawing gasps of awe from the crowd at Madison Square Garden...
...so it comes as no surprise that the faithful are anxiously awaiting word as to his availability once the NHL schedule resumes next week - and word could be as close as Thursday, when the Rangers can hold their first practice in preparation for the stretch run.
With 67 points, the Rangers are a distant second in the Metropolitan Division behind Pittsburgh but thanks to a hot streak just before the break, their total is good enough for the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference - and with a less than murderous schedule, the Rangers should easily make the playoffs.
But if Zuccarello is down for any protracted length of time, that hot steak - winning five of six, the five wins by scoring an average of 4.5 goals per game - could suffer by a goal per game, Zuccarello's average during the streak.
The Rangers first game coming out of the break will be at Madison Square Garden next Thursday, hosting the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks.
http://www.sportsinjuryalert.com/2014/02/rangers-mats-zuccarello-suffers-hand.html#.UwPt-YUcq58
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