Suddenly healthy Rangers get key players back into lineup against Lightning

NEW YORK, N.Y. - The hurting New York Rangers are getting healthy in a hurry.

After a slew of injuries in recent days, the Rangers are returning their regular lineup to the ice against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night as they try to snap a four-game losing streak (0-3-1).

The skid coincided with the undisclosed injury to top forward Rick Nash, who sat out the previous four games with what is believed to be concussion symptoms.

Defencemen Ryan McDonagh (undisclosed) and Michael Del Zotto (lower body), who missed one game and two games respectively, also rejoined the lineup. New York got forward Darroll Powe back on Tuesday after he missed three games due to a concussion.

Rangers coach John Tortorella said Thursday before the game that he felt comfortable he could use all of his returning players in the same situations and for the full complement of playing time as he did before they were injured.

The only players out on Thursday were forward Arron Asham, who missed his fourth straight game, and defenceman Matt Gilroy, who sat out because of illness.

New York assigned young forward Chris Kreider, who has been in and out of the lineup, to Connecticut of the AHL on Thursday to make room on the roster. Fellow forwards Christian Thomas and Brandon Mashinter were sent down to Connecticut earlier this week.