PHILADELPHIA — Vitali Kravtsov will not be joining the Rangers for their playoff run, The Post has learned, but the winger remains in good standing with the organization and plans are being made to have him arrive in New York early this summer in order to get a head start on training camp for 2022-23.
Sources report the determination was made following an amicable conversation between president-general manager Chris Drury and Kravtsov’s agent, Daniel Milstein. That essentially codifies the understanding between the parties early in the season when Kravtsov was given permission to join Traktor of the KHL after bolting North America in the wake of being assigned to the AHL Wolf Pack at the end of camp.
The Rangers’ hierarchy is pleased, we are told, with the progress made by Kravtsov, who has been in regular communication throughout the season with Drury. The 21-year-old winger recorded 13 points (6-7) in 19 regular-season games for Traktor before a 10-point output that included seven goals in 15 playoff contests prior to his club’s ouster in the conference finals.
Kravtsov was the ninth-overall selection of the 2018 entry draft. He played 20 games with the Rangers at the end of last season while recording two goals and two assists. He was expected to compete for a top-six spot this season before an unspecified lower-body injury early in training camp set him back and triggered the series of events that have brought him to this point.
Alexandar Georgiev, who recorded his second shutout in his last five starts (and of the season), was outstanding early in the Rangers’ 4-0 win over the Flyers on Wednesday night, when Philadelphia controlled zone time and poured shots on net. His work allowed the Rangers to gain their equilibrium after surrendering seven of the first eight shots within the opening 6:27.
Asked whether an early flurry helps him get into the game, Georgiev said: “It helps when you save them.”
Georgiev, who made 28 saves, has won his last six starts dating to March 15 with a 2.19 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage over that stretch.
The Rangers, who failed on a 1:55 two-man advantage midway through the first period, went 0-for-3 on the power play. They’re 0-for-10 in their past four contests and 2-for-19 in their past seven games. They are one of five NHL teams that have not scored this season with a two-man advantage, now 0-for-4 in 3:53 of aggregate time.
Artemi Panarin scored his 22nd goal in the second period off a brilliant backdoor feed from Jacob Trouba at the right point. … Barclay Goodrow finished the scoring with an empty-net shorthander.
Patrik Nemeth, who has missed four of the last five games as he deals with what the Rangers are calling a personal issue unrelated to previous long-term effects of COVID-19, has been skating daily at the club’s training facility. The defenseman has played in 25 of the Rangers’ last 42 games.
Alexis Lafreniere, Greg McKegg, Julien Gauthier and Libor Hajek were the other healthy scratches.