Rangers may be without a key piece against the Capitals

New York coach Mike Sullivan labeled Fox a game-time decision for the matinee at Capital One Arena.

The Rangers kept him in regular reps Tuesday, including the point spot on their first power-play group. From a Caps lens, that usually means the medical hurdle is close, even if the lineup card waits.

Fox has not played since Nov. 29, when an upper-body injury knocked him out of the Rangers' rotation. ESPN lists him on long-term injured reserve with an expected return date of Wednesday.

Washington saw what New York looks like with momentum last week, a 7-3 Rangers win here on Dec. 23. The Caps cannot let that game turn into track meets through the middle again.

When the Capitals forecheck well, they pin wingers and force rushed rims that die at the blue line. Fox changes that math, because his first pass can turn one retrieval into a clean exit.

Caps fans can sense the swing, Fox on PP1 is the kind of detail that turns calm into stress. If he dresses, Washington's killers must win the first entry battle, not just the net-front tie-up.

During his absence, New York went 5-for-37 on the power play, and the puck often stalled high. Their season rate is 19 percent, so Fox's pace should help their controlled entries snap back.

Washington's penalty kill is 76.6 percent, and the margin is thin against a seam team. Tom Wilson and Nic Dowd need active sticks on the half wall, and John Carlson must clear rebounds fast.

The whole thing matters because Fox is not just a defender, he is a driver. He won the Norris in 2021 with 47 points in 55 games, five goals and 42 assists.

Drafted 66th overall in 2016 by Calgary, the 27-year-old plays like a fourth forward who reads risk. Washington's defense has to hold gaps and keep the slot quiet for Logan Thompson.

Sullivan's final call should come Wednesday morning, and the first ten minutes will tell whether Fox looks comfortable.