Dan Boyle Breaks Hand

The New York Rangers won their opening game of the season in St. Louis, 3-2, and it cost them one of their off-season acquisitions, as defenseman Dan Boyle reportedly suffered a broken hand in the 3rd period and the early prognosis is that he'll be out of the line-up for 4-to-6 weeks.

No matter which way you were to slice it, this injury is a pretty big blow to the Rangers, who were expecting to have the 38-year old defender in the line-up for the better part of the season and his injury creates a pretty big hole, which will have to be filled by committee.

Boyle was unable to register a point in the win for the Rangers, before leaving the game with his injury.

This off-season, I didn't think there was too much left in the tank for Boyle, projecting him at only 35 points for the coming year, but coming from the blueline, those are not some bad numbers to get in the year.  Whether he scored more or less this season, he is a pretty tough loss for a month and a half.

This will be what Grant K. will have to deal with, as his team shot up to the top of the standings on Thursday night.  Grant's veteran defense is a point of interest this season, especially now, since the other three will hopefully make up for the loss of the other.

An updated list of injuries can be found here.