Sean Durzi was scratched from the Rangers' lineup for their 4-1 loss to the Oilers on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden due to an undisclosed injury. This absence forced head coach Mike Sullivan to adjust the team's defensive pairings for the first time this season.
Durzi had played in all 14 of the Rangers' previous games, centering the second pair alongside Marcus Pettersson. With Durzi unavailable, Braden Schneider moved up from the third pair to skate with Pettersson.
Scott Morrow, who had been a healthy scratch for the first 14 games of the season, drew into the lineup on Sunday for his first appearance. The 24-year-old played on the right side of the third pair with Alberts Smits. Morrow logged 15:02 of ice time and recorded an assist on the Rangers' only goal.
"Just view myself as being ready to go," Morrow told The Post. "I’m in good physical condition and just excited to get in there." He added that he understood his situation, emphasizing the importance of patience and being ready to seize opportunities.
Head coach Mike Sullivan confirmed Durzi had been dealing with an injury for the past couple of weeks, though its nature (upper or lower body) has not been specified. Durzi sustained an injury to his hand while blocking a shot in the Rangers' game against the Ducks.
Through his first 14 games as a Ranger, the 28-year-old Durzi had registered two goals and three assists. Dylan Garand made his 10th consecutive start in net for the Rangers, stopping 21 of 24 shots against the Oilers. The Rangers also recorded a season-high faceoff win percentage of 64 percent in the game.