With the NHL regular season set to begin next week, the New York Rangers are missing their leading scorer from last year.
Artemi Panarin was absent from Thursday’s practice and is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury, Peter Baugh of The Athletic reported.
Panarin was injured Tuesday in a game against the Devils, the second time this pre-season he was knocked out a game early due to a lower-body injury.
Last season, Panarin finished fifth in Hart Trophy voting after leading the Rangers in scoring with 120 points and finishing second on the team with 49 goals.
In Panarin’s place, rookie Brennan Othmann moved up into the top six and skated on a line alongside Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere at practice Thursday.
The Rangers close the pre-season on Friday against the Islanders and open the regular season next Wednesday on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins.