Kevin Hayes, sidelined for the last five games, including Sunday’s 4-3 victory over the Flames at the Garden, with an apparent left knee injury suffered Jan. 22 in Detroit, will practice with the club Monday.
“Kevin skated again [Sunday] morning and will practice with us,” coach Alain Vigneault said. “As for playing Tuesday [against Anaheim], I don’t know.”
When Hayes returns, J.T. Miller — who set up Jesper Fast for Sunday’s eventual winner with a gorgeous, quick feed in front — will shift back to the wing from the middle on the third line with No. 13 and Michael Grabner.
Vigneault will have lineup and alignment decisions involving Jimmy Vesey, Pavel Buchnevich, Matt Puempel and Oscar Lindberg.
Marc Staal played only 4:27 over five third-period shifts after reporting to the Garden feeling ill, according to Vigneault.
“He was throwing up when he came to the rink,” the coach said. “He took an IV between the first and second period and went out there and tried his best.”
Henrik Lundqvist said he felt little difference using the NHL’s new, smaller goalie pants mandated for wear beginning Sunday.
“They’re curved and compressed, so they fit a little tighter [on the thighs and above the knees],” the netminder said, adding, “The league wants the curve so that if the puck hits the outside it will slide in.“Just like when you use new pads, you notice a difference the first few times, but wearing them didn’t affect anything about the way I moved or played.”
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