Rangers’ Vitali Kravtsov out for at least a week with upper-body injury

Vitali Kravtsov will be sidelined for at least a week with an upper-body injury, Rangers announced on Tuesday ahead of the Flyers at Madison Square Garden, meaning the 22-year-old winger will be out for at least a week. least the next four games.

This will be the third set of games Kravtsov has had to miss through injury, having suffered upper-body injuries in the season opener and in the 3-2 loss to Turkey. Avalanche on Oct. 25, just two games after he returned from the first injury.

Kravtsov, who has a prominent bruise on his nose, suffered his most recent injury – which is believed to have something to do with his head – in a race for the puck against the Stars last weekend. He was crushed to the boards by Dallas defender Jani Hakanpaa and took a while to get up before heading out to the locker room.

« Every time he gets on the ice he gets injured, it’s a shame, » Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said after morning practice in Tarrytown. « He got into a rough patch the other night and he got hit hard. … Stick to it. Keep working hard, get back on the ice and get ready to go. That’s all You can’t worry about what happened in the past, he has to look forward to his next game and keep doing his thing.

« He hasn’t done anything to hurt his chances, but in the same hand he hasn’t taken a break yet. »

When asked if he thinks Kravtsov will learn to protect himself better as he gains more NHL experience, Gallant said he hopes so.

« You have to play the tough game, you have to play the aggressive game, but he probably got himself into a bad spot the other night, » the coach said. “I want him to go there and be the first on the pucks, we talked about it. Don’t be a little smarter, but be a little more careful than that. It’s a shame, because he played well.

Kravtsov hasn’t had many opportunities to acclimate to NHL play amid all those injuries. He recorded 28:52 of ice time in four games, recording no points and no shots on goal.

Filip Chytil (upper body injury) is still considered day-to-day, but the Czech center has returned to skating.

« I don’t want to say how [he is to returning], I don’t know,” Gallant said. “It’s day to day, that’s all I know. He is fine. He skates hard, works and prepares to play.