The New York Rangers were dealt some unwelcome news just days before Christmas, as team captain J.T. Miller has suffered an injury. Head coach Mike Sullivan confirmed that the veteran forward will be sidelined on a week-to-week basis.
Miller sustained an upper-body injury after taking a heavy open-ice hit from Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler during the third period. The collision sent Miller crashing to the ice. This marks the second time this season that Miller will miss action due to an upper-body issue, as he previously sat out two games in late November. There have also been suggestions that he may have aggravated the injury earlier against the St. Louis Blues.
Through 35 games this season, the 32-year-old has recorded 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points. Over his 14-year NHL career, Miller has suited up for the Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Vancouver Canucks. The East Palestine, Ohio native is averaging 20 minutes and 46 seconds of ice time per game this season while posting a 54.3 Corsi For percentage and a relative Corsi of plus-6.3.
Miller has totaled 270 goals and 461 assists for 731 points across 906 career games. The Rangers originally selected him in the first round, 15th overall, of the 2011 NHL Draft.
Impact on the Rangers
Since returning to New York in a midseason trade last year from Vancouver, Miller has been a steady presence during his second stint with the franchise.
He has been among the most reliable performers on a Rangers team that has struggled to find rhythm at times this season, and he has reestablished chemistry with longtime linemate Mika Zibanejad.
While New York has played well away from home, results at Madison Square Garden have been more inconsistent. Although the Blueshirts have shown improvement at home recently, they will need to continue stacking wins at MSG to build momentum moving forward.