Already down Ryan Strome, the New York Rangers have lost another player down the middle.
Centre Filip Chytil left Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning with an upper-body injury after taking a hit from defenceman Victor Hedman with 6:22 remaining in the second period, the Rangers announced on Tuesday.
Chytil sat on the bench briefly after the hit before going to the dressing room and did not return for the third period.
Head coach Gerard Gallant said after Tuesday's game that Chytil "should be fine" and gave an update on Strome, saying he's day-to-day but hopeful he could return for Game 5 on Thursday.
Chytil, a first-round pick in 2017, has had a strong Stanley Cup Playoffs centring Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko on the Rangers' third line, also known as “The Kid Line.”
Although he’s never produced more than 23 points in a season, the 22-year-old has seven goals through 18 games these playoffs — one short of his regular-season total, which he achieved in 67 contests.
Strome, who has two goals and seven assists this post-season, left Game 3 with a lower-body injury before missing Game 4.