BUFFALO – K’Andre Miller did not come out for the third period of the Rangers’ 3-2 win over the Sabres on Wednesday night due to an upper-body injury he sustained earlier in the night.
Head coach Peter Laviolette did not have an immediate update on the 24-year-old defenseman.
Miller was upended by Sabres forward Jordan Greenway less than halfway through the second period. It’s unclear if that was when the injury occurred, especially since he continued to play.
K’Andre Miller, seen here on Dec. 8, exited Wednesday’s win early. Getty Images
It was one of Miller’s better games in a season where defense has been a major issue for the Blueshirts.
“I thought he’s been good lately,” Laviolette said of Miller, who finished the game with one shot on goal, two blocks, one hit and two takeaways in the win. “Take out last game [against Chicago], everybody [was] just off the mark last game. Prior to that, I thought he was real strong, as well. He was good tonight.”
Adjustments continue to be made to Rangers’ second power-play unit, which was composed of Will Cuylle, Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil, Reilly Smith and Zac Jones on Wednesday.
First it was Cuylle who was taken off ahead of the Blackhawks game. This time, it was Kaapo Kakko.
“They’re all having good years,” Laviolette said. “It’s difficult. All those players could be in the lineup. I do think that Cools provides a good net-front. He’s a guy that’s willing to get in there and stand there and just take the eyes, similarly to the way Chris Kreider does it. They’ve all been effective in that situation.”
Artemi Panarin notched an assist in his 700th career NHL game.
Since the star Russian wing made his NHL debut in 2015-16, Panarin ranks second in the league in assists (536) and fifth in points (816).
Not only does he have points in five of his last six games, but Panarin has at least one point in 21 of 28 games so far this season.
Mika Zibanejad’s power-play score counted as his 300th career NHL goal. He is just the eighth player with Swedish nationality in NHL history to reach that milestone.
The goal also counted as his 49th game-opening score with the Rangers, surpassing Andy Bathgate for the sixth most in franchise history.
Artemi Panarin tallied an assist against the Sabres. AP
Defenseman Urho Vaakainanen, who the Rangers acquired from Anaheim in the Jacob Trouba trade, continues to skate in a green non-contact jersey while on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.
Jimmy Vesey was a healthy scratch for the second straight game.