Rangers defenseman Marc Staal did not play against the Sabres because of a hip flexor issue and will also miss the first two games of the four-city Western swing, coach Alain Vigneault said Thursday. And center Kevin Hayes (leg bruise) is a question mark.
Staal, who was injured during the 5-1 win over the Flyers on Tuesday, has not skated since, and Vigneault ruled him out for Friday’s practice. “I know definitely that Marc will not skate tomorrow, so he definitely will not play on the weekend [Saturday in Colorado and Sunday in Los Angeles].”
The durable defenseman and alternate captain had played in all 45 games this season, along with J.