Filip Chytil out with illness for Rangers in Game 4 vs. Hurricanes

Filip Chytil will not play Saturday in Raleigh because of an illness when the New York Rangers try to finish a sweep of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Chytil didn’t take part in the morning skate and was listed as a game-time decision, but wasn’t on the ice for pregame warmups.

“He felt great (Friday), went to the team meal,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette explained Saturday morning. “Woke up this morning and didn’t feel well.”

It is somewhat deflating that Chytil won’t play Saturday. The 24-year-old played his first game in six months when he was inserted into the Rangers lineup for their 3-2 overtime win in Game 3 on Thursday. Chytil had been out since Nov. 2 because of an upper-body injury believed to be a concussion, and played only 10 regular-season games for the Blueshirts this season.

“We’re so happy to get him back,” Chris Kreider said after Game 3. “It’s been a long frustrating road, so having him around has been amazing. To have him come in — buzz around out there, and having a positive impact, was awesome.”

Chytil skated on the third line with Alex Wennberg and Kaapo Kakko, playing a bit more than 12 minutes and finishing with one shot on goal and two hits. He also took some bumps, which he admitted felt good despite his issues with head injuries.

“I’ve never felt better when somebody hit me,” Chytil joked via The Athletic . “I was so happy. It gave me the adrenaline, what I missed in the last six months. Even this, when it’s painful, it was feeling good.”

Related: Another injured Rangers forward ‘champing at the bit’ to return

Jonny Brodzinski could join Rangers playoff lineup against Hurricanes in Game 4

It appears that Jonny Brodzinski, and not Matt Rempe, will slot into the lineup with Chytil out. During line rushes at the morning skate, Will Cuylle moved back up from the fourth line to resume his usual spot on the third line, where he had played the first six postseason games prior to Chytil’s return. Brodzinski was on the fourth line along with Barclay Goodrow and Jimmy Vesey.

Both Brodzinski and Rempe skated in pregame warmups.

Rempe played the first six playoff games but was scratched for Game 3. It looks like he’ll be out again when the Rangers seek their eighth straight win to open these playoffs Saturday.

Brodzinski played in 57 regular-season games with the Rangers this season and established NHL career highs with six goals and 19 points. He appeared in one playoff game with the Rangers in 2022.

Rempe averaged 6:22 in ice time over the first six postseason games. He scored New York’s first goal of these playoffs in Game 1 of the first-round sweep against the Washington Capitals. He’s also tied for third on the Rangers with eight penalty minutes in the playoffs.

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More must-reads:

• Hurricanes play coy with Game 5 goalie against Rangers
• Filip Chytil likely out for Rangers in Game 5 vs. Hurricanes but returns to ice
• Rangers look to end series in Game 5 ‘dog fight,’ avoid trip back to Carolina