Rangers back on ice, close to returning
Ryan Craig, who was a healthy scratch for the first two games of the season, was targeted to possibly get into the lineup for Saturday's home opener against Carolina but will likely be out up to a week.
Craig left about 20 minutes into practice with a groin strain and will be held off the ice for at least a few days, according to Coach Barry Melrose.
Craig had been working as the third-line center between Evgeny Artyukhin and Mark Recchi, the line centered by Jussi Jokinen in the first two games. Jokinen missed practice Wednesday for personal reasons, but Melrose said Craig was not set to take Jokinen's place in the lineup.
"Jussi has been great," Melrose said. "He came here expecting to be gone right away, but he's played himself into a pretty pivotal part of our team."
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