OTTAWA (AP) — Marian Gaborik missed the New York Rangers’ first game back from the NHL’s Olympic break Tuesday night in Ottawa due to an unspecified lower-body injury.
Gaborik, who leads the Rangers with 35 goals and 69 points, missed two of New York’s last three games before the two-week break and was limited to four total minutes due to a cut on his right knee.
The Slovakian right wing played through that injury during the Olympics and had four goals and one assist in seven games, including Slovakia’s loss to Finland in the bronze medal game Saturday.
Rookie defenseman Michael Del Zotto (upper-body injury) also missed the game for New York, which is tied with Tampa Bay for ninth place in the Eastern Conference — one point behind Montreal for the eighth and final playoff spot.
