Rangers’ Barclay Goodrow questionable to face Capitals after puck-to-the-face injury

It is unclear if Barclay Goodrow will make the trip to Washington with the Rangers this weekend to play the Capitals on Saturday, after the utility forward took a puck to the face in the first period of the club’s 6-2 loss to the Senators in Ottawa.

Goodrow did not participate in practice the last two days, which could indicate there is a bigger issue afoot than just a lost tooth.

“He was at the rink here today,” head coach Peter Laviolette said after practice on Friday. “We’re seeing how he is.”

If Goodrow is unable to play on Saturday, call-up Riley Nash is expected to take his place. The 34-year-old center skated in Goodrow’s spot on the fourth line with Jimmy Vesey and Tyler Pitlick on Friday.

Nash, who signed a two-year contract with the Rangers in July, hasn’t played in the NHL since the 2021-22 playoffs with the Lightning. His last game was on June 26, 2022 against the Avalanche.

The Canadian forward comes with 627 games of NHL experience across six different teams, including the Hurricanes, Bruins, Blue Jackets, Jets and Lightning.

In 20 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack this season, Nash has scored nine goals and dished 10 assists for 19 points. He also currently owns a plus-nine rating to go along with 26 penalty minutes.

Defenseman Adam Fox is set to skate in his 300th career NHL game on Saturday.

Among NHL defensemen, his 212 assists are the sixth most through the first 300 games of a career, while his 251 points are the 14th most.

Rangers prospects Gabe Perrault and Drew Fortescue were listed on Team USA’s preliminary roster for the 2024 U.S. National Junior Team.

The Rangers are set to play in their third back-to-back schedule this weekend, with Saturday’s road game followed by facing the Kings at home on Sunday.