The New York Rangers have placed defenseman Sean Durzi on injured reserve, marking the fourth key lineup member to join the IR or long-term injured reserve list.
Durzi was sidelined with a lower-body injury ahead of Thursday’s matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden.
The blue line was the final segment of the Rangers’ roster to avoid an IR designation, though Durzi had been managing the issue for several weeks.
Because the 28-year-old’s injured-reserve designation is retroactive to Oct. 26, he has cleared the mandatory seven-day window and is eligible to be activated at any moment.
“I don’t know that he’s going to make the upcoming Seattle–Western Canada trip initially,” head coach Mike Sullivan said Thursday before the Rangers’ 3–2 victory over the Flyers. “It really depends on how he progresses.”
Speculation initially pointed to a hand injury after Durzi blocked a shot with his hand during last month’s win over the Anaheim Ducks. A team source denied that report, confirming the issue is lower-body related.
Durzi recently missed a few practices for what the club described as “maintenance,” though Sullivan later acknowledged the second-pair defenseman was playing through an injury. Although Durzi has not missed every practice or morning skate since getting hurt, his recent decline in performance likely correlates with the ailment.
Scott Morrow has stepped into the lineup for three consecutive games, skating on the right side alongside Alberts Smits.
Goaltender Dylan Garand turned aside 23 of 25 shots, securing his sixth victory of the season.
New York placed James Reimer on waivers Thursday ahead of Joonas Korpisalo’s anticipated return. Korpisalo has been sidelined since the start of the season with a foot infection.
“I believe he is,” Sullivan said when asked whether Korpisalo would join the team’s Seattle trip.
Although waived, Reimer served as Garand’s backup against the Flyers.
Korpisalo made 34 saves during a conditioning stint with AHL Hartford on Wednesday, suffering a 4–1 loss to Hershey.
The Rangers received a positive update on Korpisalo, who could debut as early as Friday in Seattle, depending on how he feels.
New York is off the ice Friday while traveling to Seattle.
