Zuccarello joins Rangers, progressing from injury

WASHINGTON -- Injured right wing Mats Zuccarello joined the New York Rangers on their trip here for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center on Sunday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports), but a Rangers spokesperson said there has been no change in his position other than he is progressing.

Zuccarello has been out indefinitely with an upper-body injury after getting hit in the head by defenseman Ryan McDonagh's slap shot in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 24.

Zuccarello was shown on the scoreboard during Game 5 against the Capitals on Friday at Madison Square Garden.

"He's been in constant contact with everybody on the staff, from coaches to management to his teammates," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said Saturday. "He's seen his teammates on a regular basis. He just came down to the rink [Friday] but it is good having him around. He's an upbeat person and we'd like him to be on the ice. He can't be there right now to help us out. Hopefully he'll be there soon."

Defenseman Dan Girardi said the Rangers have gotten a bump out of having Zuccarello on hand even if he can't play.

"It's good to see his face around and he's always laughing and telling jokes and keeping it light," Girardi said. "We've seen him a couple of times before, but it's good to see him out and feeling good and out and about with the team."

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