Noah Laba looks ready to rejoin the Rangers rookie class.
Just seven days after being labeled “week to week” with a lower-body injury, the third-line center was a full participant in practice Saturday.
Barring a setback, Laba could return for Sunday afternoon’s game against the Panthers at Madison Square Garden. “He skated at full [speed]” coach Mike Sullivan said. “We’ll see how he responds to that.”
Laba, who was injured in the March 18 loss to the Devils and has missed the past five games, has been a rare source of optimism this season. He has recorded nine goals and 12 assists in 65 games, along with 98 hits and 42 blocked shots, while playing a key role on the penalty kill.
The Rangers opened a roster spot by assigning center Juuso Parssinen to AHL Hartford. Parssinen, who was traded to the Rangers just over a year ago, has appeared in just 20 games this season — including just one of the team’s past eight — posting two goals and one assist.
Igor Shesterkin will return to net Sunday, with rookie Dylan Garand — coming off his first career win — serving as the backup.
Through two starts, Garand has posted a 1.44 GAA and .954 save percentage, stopping 63 of 66 shots.
The 23-year-old rookie is the second Rangers goaltender (Shesterkin) in the past decade to help the team earn points in his first two career starts.
Sullivan said he still needs to speak with general manager Chris Drury regarding the plan for Garand’s usage over the team’s final nine regular-season games.
“We’ve got two healthy goalies that we’re going to utilize,” Sullivan said Saturday. “Dylan’s part of it. I think he’s played extremely well in the two games that he’s played, which is really encouraging from our standpoint. He’s a good, young goalie.”
Another element in the team’s plans is the health of Jonathan Quick. The 40-year-old — who suffered an upper-body injury last week — received significant reps in Saturday’s practice, but he has not yet been cleared to return to game action.
With two goals in Friday’s win over the Blackhawks, Jonny Brodzinski recorded the third multigoal game of his career, snapping a 20-game goal drought. It was the veteran’s eighth game since Feb. 5.
“Jonny’s been great,” Sullivan said. “He’s in and out of the lineup. He knows what his role is. He embraces it. He works hard when he’s not in the lineup. He keeps himself ready. He tries to make an impact and help us win. I think he’s embraced his role. I think he’s a good pro. I think he’s a positive influence on the young players when they come up. He’s got a great attitude.”
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