Kaapo Kakko returned the New York Rangers against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on Sunday after the forward missed 21 games with a lower-body injury.
The 22-year-old was injured during a 5-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 27. He skated on the first line at right wing with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad.
"He's good to go," Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said before the game. "It's not like we've got him penciled in for eight minutes and that's all he's going to get. Whatever the game brings his way, I think he's in a good spot to handle it.
"He's looked good in practice. He's healthy. He's cleared. He's been with us for a while, and so it's nice to have him back. In practice, he's looked like he's skating well. He's protecting pucks. It's his first game back after being off for a little bit, but I'm sure he's excited to get back in there and play."
Kakko has three points (two goals, one assist) in 20 games this season.
"You miss everything a little bit when it comes to Kaapo," Laviolette said. "He protects the puck really well in the offensive zone. He's big, he's strong, he's young, he's fast, capable defensively. You lose a player like that for a bit, you feel it, so it's good to get him back on the ice."
