In the second round, Filip Chytil returned to the Rangers for Game 3 against the Hurricanes. After voicing his excitement about finally being back, he wasn’t available for the remainder of the series.

Apparently, the flu was going around. Chytil was out due to illness and aches and pains. Most likely, he was recovering from flu-like symptoms. Over a week later, the 24-year-old center is optimistic about returning for the Conference Finals.

“I want to play,” Chytil told Vince Mercogliano in a story that appeared in the USA Today Network on Sunday. “I didn’t join to just watch the guys from the stands and have a vacation in New York and Florida. I want to play. I’m going to do my best any time I get put in the lineup.”

With Rangers coach Peter Laviolette acknowledging that there were no restrictions on any players, including Blake Wheeler, who skated with the extras at practice, there’s a good indication that Chytil could be ready to go for Game 1 against the Panthers on Wednesday night.

“I feel great now,” he said. “We have a couple more practices and I can work on my game. Let’s see what’s going to happen on Wednesday.”

More encouraging is that Chytil practiced with Alex Wennberg and Kaapo Kakko on the third line earlier today. Will Cuylle skated with Barclay Goodrow and Jimmy Vesey on the fourth line.

As Mercogliano noted in his tweet, Zac Jones filled in for Ryan Lindgren on the top pair with Adam Fox. It looks like Laviolette will begin the Eastern Conference Finals with the same defense pairs that concluded the second round.

For the Rangers, getting Chytil back should provide a boost. Despite the third line of Wennberg, Cuylle, and Kakko playing well due to their puck possession style in the first two rounds, they’ve only two goals. Kakko got one on a giveaway against the Capitals. Cuylle converted on a breakaway against the Hurricanes.

Defensively, they’ve been responsible. That line has only allowed one goal against. Perhaps adding the more creative Chytil can help them contribute more offensively. Facing a very tough opponent in the next round, the Blueshirts will need more out of the third line.

If they line up that way on Wednesday, it should provide more depth.