When the Rangers take the ice for their first playoff game in five years on Tuesday night, they will have their dynamic trade-deadline acquisition ready to go.
Andrew Copp told reporters over the weekend that the injury he suffered against the Hurricanes shortly before the end of the regular season was the same one he had against the Bruins just two games before, but after sitting out the rest of the regular season out of precaution, he’s ready to roll against the Penguins.
“I feel good, ready to go,” Copp said. “Getting a lot of treatment done [Sunday]. It sucks watching, always does. If there’s ever a time to watch, it’s probably under those circumstances.”
Copp echoed head coach Gerard Gallant’s sentiments, telling reporters that the injury wasn’t serious but with New York enduring multiple injury scares down the stretch of the regular season, it was best to be careful with Copp, who scored eight goals in 15 regular season games with the Rangers, and formed a formidable pairing alongside Artemi Panarin.
“I think it was pretty much like if you felt anything that we weren’t going to continue on,” Copp explained. “So it was not a severe injury by any means, but definitely felt like it was time to take a little time to make sure that everything was good to go for game one.”
Copp’s return to the ice will come on Tuesday night at The Garden, which will be the franchise’s biggest game since 2017, and the beginning of the team’s quest for its first Stanley Cup appearance since 2014.
“Been itching to get back on the ice and get back in the competition and get going, especially this time of year,” Copp said. “It’s so exciting. Just been champing at the bit a little bit.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
Follow WFAN on Social Media
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch