While the Rangers lost Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final, Blake Wheeler came out of the night a winner as he made his highly anticipated return to the lineup.
New York Rangers forward Blake Wheeler made his long awaited return to the lineup in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final.
Wheeler suffered a leg injury in February, which sidelined him for the remainder of regular season and first two rounds of the playoffs.
On Tuesday night, the veteran forward recorded 9:18 minutes while playing on a line with Matt Rempe and Barclay Goodrow.
While Wheeler did commit a hooking penalty in overtime that cost the Rangers the game, there was not much he could have done on that play and coach Peter Laviolette was happy with his performance.
“Through communication with Blake over the last five to seven days everything that we saw off the ice and on the ice led us to believe he was a player,” Laviolette said via NHL.com’s Dan Rosen. “I thought his game was good. He was trying to work hard. He was physical.”
Some speculated that Wheeler’s leg injury would mark the end of his legendary hockey career, but he overcame all the odds and made a full return to help his team out in the playoffs.
The Rangers may have ultimately lost the game, but Wheeler has every right to be proud of himself.
“It was amazing to get back out there and be with the guys again,” Wheeler said. “I certainly wish the outcome was different, but everything was great to be out there with the guys.”
