MONTREAL — Ryan Lindgren is projected to make his season debut on Tuesday night against the Canadiens.
“He’s looked good,” head coach Peter Laviolette said. “He’s been out on the ice now for a couple weeks, been with us for 7-10 days, practicing and working hard. He’s cleared.”
The Rangers activated Lindgren off injured reserve ahead of their third and final game of the road trip, after the 26-year-old defenseman missed two more contests than his minimum week-long stint on the sidelines required.
Lindgren suffered what appeared to be a jaw injury in a fight with Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield in the Blueshirts’ second exhibition game of the preseason on Sept. 24. Catching a couple uppercuts, Lindgren has been wearing a full face shield ever since he returned to the ice for practice.
Despite Lindgren’s return, the Rangers’ top two defense pairings remain intact. Adam Fox is staying with K’Andre Miller, while Braden Schneider continues to skate on the left of captain Jacob Trouba.
Lindgren will line up next to Victor Mancini, who has played in all six Rangers games to start the season.
“He’s a heart and soul guy,” Laviolette said of Lindgren, who signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal this past offseason to remain with the Rangers. “He plays hard every single shift, every game. He gives everything he has. You remove a guy like that from the lineup and you feel it. It’ll be nice to get him back in there.
“First one back after being gone for a bit, but his impact will be felt and he’ll continue to get better the more he plays.”
With Lindgren’s expected return, Chad Ruhwedel will be bumped from the lineup after making his season debut on Saturday in Toronto. In 14:04 of ice time against the Maple Leafs, Ruhwedel recorded two hits and four blocks.
Zac Jones, who played in the first four games, is set to be a healthy scratch for the second straight contest.
Igor Shesterkin earned the starting nod in Montreal, marking his fifth start of the season.
The NHL’s Frozen Frenzy — where all 32 teams are in action with staggered start time — begins at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
“I do think it’s good for hockey, great for the game,” Laviolette said. “There’s hockey going on everywhere, which is awesome.”