The Rangers finished Game 2 one forward short.
Jimmy Vesey didn’t return to the game after going off with 7:45 to go in the second period, setting the Rangers down a man after Ryan Lomberg collided with Vesey’s left shoulder.
The Rangers officially called it an upper-body injury for Vesey.
That created a far-from-ideal situation in a bottom six that had already struggled for much of the evening.
Peter Laviolette had made changes to the lineup pregame, inserting Matt Rempe for Kaapo Kakko and moving Jack Roslovic to the third line.
Though Rempe did have some impact, with six hits through the first 40 minutes, the reconstituted third line of Roslovic, Alex Wennberg and Will Cuylle struggled all night, and the fourth line was frequently in its own defensive zone.
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If Vesey misses more time, it would make Laviolette’s lineup decisions a little easier, but at the cost of losing someone who was not about to come out anyway.
Vesey has recorded a goal and two assists in the playoffs so far.
