New York Rangers' Brandon Dubinsky practices, not ready to return just yet -NHL Update
New York Rangers’ power forward, Brandon Dubinsky, was seen practicing on Friday, May 18, 2012, with the team that is set to meet New Jersey Devils in Game 3 of the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Playoff Finals on Saturday,
but has not confirmed his availability being anytime soon.
The 26-year-old centre player, who suffered an undisclosed lower-body injury in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against Ottawa Senators, was practicing for the first time since then in an orange, non-contact jersey.
"He was on the ice," Rangers’ head coach, John Tortorella, said. "Other than that, there's no update."
Dubinsky was expected to participate with New York Rangers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against New Jersey Devils, but talking to the media before the contest, he did not shoot off any hints of returning.
"It's exciting to watch us win and move on to the next round, and it gives me hope and allows me to have something to keep working for, looking forward to coming back and helping this team," Dubinsky told reporters in Greenburgh, N.Y this past Sunday. "It's
unfortunate not being able to play, but lucky enough for me the team is winning without me in the line-up. But I think I can still help this team, so it's just a matter of getting back as fast as I can."
It was reported that the power forward was just on the ice for 20 minutes and not allowed to be physically contacted, which is why he was wearing the orange coloured jersey.
Brandon Dubinsky was drafted by the New York Rangers as the 60th overall in round-two of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. In the six seasons he has played with Rangers thus far, the Anchorage, Arkansas, native has played in 393 career games with a total
of 213 points (81 goals, 132 assists).
In his fourth career postseason, Dubinsky registered one assist in the seven games he appeared in while registering 14 minutes in penalty time.
Rumours are that Brandon Dubinsky will be rejoining the New York Rangers squad if they make the Stanley Cup Finals after eliminating New Jersey Devils, but highly unlikely in the Eastern Finals.
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