Struggling Rangers get Kaapo Kakko back from injury vs. Capitals

In the midst of their worst stretch of the season, the Rangers received a lifeline.

Kaapo Kakko was activated off long-term injured reserve and is slated to return to the lineup on Sunday in the Blueshirts second game of back-to-back matinees against the Capitals at Madison Square Garden.

After missing 21 games with a lower-body injury, which he sustained in an awkward fall along the boards following a corner collision with Sabres defenseman Erik Johnson on Nov. 27, Kakko is coming back just in time to try and help the Rangers stop the bleeding of a season-high four-game losing streak.

Hes healthy, hes cleared, head coach Peter Laviolette said of Kakko before the game. Hes been with us for a while. Its nice to have him back. In practice, hes looked like hes skating well. Hes protecting pucks. Its his first game back after being off for a little bit, but Im sure hes excited to get back in there and play.

Kaapo Kakko will return from injury for the Rangers’ Sunday game against the Capitals. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConThe Finnish wing is not under any sort of restrictions or ice-time limits, according to Laviolette, who noted that he and his coaching staff were still having conversations about the lineup.

Its likely that Anton Blidh, who made his season debut and Rangers debut on Saturday in Washington, will be scratched.

While Kakko only had two goals and one assists in 20 games before his injury, the Rangers have had two AHL call-ups in their lineup the previous five games.

Rangers wing Kaapo Kakko was injured on Nov. 27. Getty ImagesThe team needs a boost and Kakko is the kind of player who can provide it.

You miss everything a little bit when it comes to Kakko, Laviolette said. He protects the puck really well in the offensive zone. Hes big. Hes strong. Hes young. Hes fast. Hes capable defensively, certainly capable offensively. You lose a player like that for a bit, you feel it. So its good to get him back out on the ice.

The NHL announced on Sunday that Laviolette will serve as one of the two Eastern Conference head coaches at All-Star weekend in Toronto.

Laviolette was named along with Jim Montgomery of the Boston Bruins to represent the East, while the Jets Rick Bowness and the Canucks Rick Tocchet were chosen for the West.

Head coaches are selected from the teams with the highest points percentage in each of the four divisions through Jan. 13 the halfway point of the regular season to lead the four All-Star rosters.

This will be Laviolettes fourth All-Star weekend appearance as head coach, after the 59-year-old participated in 2011, 2015 and 2018. Its the most among active head coaches in the NHL.

Laviolette has led the Rangers to a 26-13-2 record so far in his first season in New York.