Fox leaves Rangers game with lower-body injury

NEW YORK — Adam Fox suffers a lower-body injury during the first period and does not return in the New York Rangers’ 2-1 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.

During the first period, Fox collides leg on leg with Sebastian Aho, a forward for the Hurricanes, with 7:57 remaining.

Despite the injury, Fox remains on the ice to complete his shift after a television timeout. He plays one more 31-second shift before leaving the bench with approximately 5:30 left in the period, with the game tied 1-1.

For the start of the second period, Fox does not return, and the Rangers confirm he will not participate in the remainder of the game.

“If he is absent for any length of time, it is evident that he is a significant player in this league and for our team. It will be up to other players to step up,” commented Rangers captain @Jaco.

As of Thursday, Fox has accumulated 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 10 games this season, jointly leading NHL defensemen with Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche) and Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks).

Last season, Fox ranked second in the Norris Trophy race for the NHL’s best defenseman, losing to Erik Karlsson of the San Jose Sharks. He recorded exceptional statistics with 72 points (12 goals, 60 assists) in 82 games. However, Fox went on to win the Norris in the 2020-21 season.

Late in the second period, New York forward Filip Chytil exits the game due to an upper-body injury and does not return.

Rangers coach Peter Laviolette announces that Fox and Chytil will undergo evaluations on Friday.