David Quinn returned to coach the Rangers at the Washington Capitals after missing the past six games while in NHL COVID-19 protocol.
"I was told I was going to be OK," Quinn said before a 5-4 loss at Capital One Arena. "It wasn't going to be anything that was going to create more of an issue for me. But anytime you get COVID, basically the way things have gone, you're always a little bit worried. But I never really got sick at all and I was very fortunate to have a very mild reaction to it."
Quinn, who has an underlying health condition (hemophilia), entered the protocol with assistants Jacques Martin, Greg Brown and David Oliver before the Rangers hosted the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden on March 17. Martin and Brown rejoined the Rangers when they played at the Flyers on Thursday.
Oliver remains in COVID-19 protocol.
The Rangers went 4-2-0 during Quinn's absence with Kris Knoblauch, coach of Hartford in the American Hockey League, filling in as acting coach. He and Martin will be the assistants Sunday. Hartford associate coach Gord Murphy and Rangers associate general manager Chris Drury were assistants.
"Like I said, Kris did a heck of a job," Quinn said. "I know he was kind of downplaying his role through the whole situation, but he and I talked a lot. The good news for all of us is that they play the same way in Hartford that we do here. It was an easy transition and we're very fortunate that we have a coach like him in Hartford to be able to step in and do what he did." -- Tom Gulitti
Pittsburgh Penguins
Jason Zucker could return against the New York Islanders in Pittsburgh on Monday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, ATTSN-PT).
The forward took full contact in practice Sunday, skating at second-line left wing during line rushes with center Jared McCann and right wing Evan Rodrigues and on the second power-play unit.
Zucker has missed 18 games with a lower-body injury since Feb. 23.
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said that although Zucker's status has not changed, practicing in a full capacity "suggests he's a whole lot closer to returning to the lineup."
"The recovery has been really good so far," Zucker said. "Our training staff has done an excellent job in helping me get back pretty quick. I'm excited to be where I'm at."
When healthy, Zucker could be on the second line with Evgeni Malkin at center and Kasperi Kapanen at right wing. Malkin and Kapanen are each week to week with a lower-body injury.
Sullivan said Malkin, who has missed six games, has not skated.
Zucker has scored seven points (four goals, three assists) in 17 games this season.
"He's an important part of this team," Sullivan said. "We're certainly a better team when he's in our lineup. He can help us in so many different ways." -- Wes Crosby
