Kaapo Kakko is expected to return to the Rangers squad for Saturday’s clash against Devils, after losing the last six games due to a fight against COVID-19.
The 20-year-old was placed on the COVID-19 protocol list for the second time this season on February 20. After recording a false positive during his first pass on the list (he lost the game on February 1), Kakko revealed on Friday that he contracted the coronavirus and that is why his absence was much longer this time.
Kakko said, following the practice, that he was “a little sick, but not a lot”.
“I think it’s a little bit difficult [to get back into game shape], “he added.“ I was on the ice with the team [Thursday] and [Friday], so sometimes it takes time, but I feel good now. “
After Kakko first trained with Rangers during the morning skate before the 6-1 win over Devils on Thursday, coach David Quinn said he is still going through the return to game protocol and cannot compete.
With another game in Newark scheduled for Saturday night, Kakko is expected to return to the second row alongside Chris Kreider and Ryan Strome. Before being placed on the COVID-19 protocol list, Kakko had flanked Strome with the choice of the 2020 general top, Alexis Lafreniere. But with Lafreniere’s promotion to the top row, Kreider will likely be on the left wing now.
Kakko, Strome and Kreider recorded only 3:51 of time on the ice together, according to the Natural Stat Trick. Kreider’s current streak of two hat-tricks in the last five games, however, should allow Kakko to get back on track.
In his last five games before joining the coronavirus protocol list, Kakko was generating a ton of goal kicks and recording more than 17 minutes of ice time every night.
“Yes, I played well before [going on the list] and I think try to play like that ”, said Kakko. “I think it’s coming, just try to keep [playing] the same way. That’s it.”