In less than an hour, the Rangers take on the Golden Knights at Madison Square Garden. They’ll look to snap a three-game losing streak. Coming off a disappointing 6-3 loss to the Bruins yesterday, they’ll be without one of their regulars tonight. ]

For the first time this season, Adam Edstrom won’t dress for the Blueshirts. In the second period of Saturday’s game, he took a hit from Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov that resulted in the back of his right leg landing awkwardly into the boards. He didn’t return for the third period. The Rangers are calling it a lower-body injury. He’ll be reevaluated.

In 51 games during his rookie season, Edstrom has been a bright spot on an underperforming roster that sits six points out of the playoffs with 31 games remaining. A consistent player who brings size, speed, and energy to the lineup, he’s fit in well with Sam Carrick and Matt Rempe on the fourth line. In January, he scored three goals and had two assists with a plus-2 rating. Five of his nine points came last month.

It was the play of the checking line that helped the Rangers go 7-0-3 between Jan. 5-23 to get back in the playoff race. Since Rempe returned on Jan. 8, the line has been given more responsibility by coach Peter Laviolette. He’s shown more trust by playing the cohesive trio more shifts in close games. Edstrom has been a steady player who’s effective both in transition and on the forecheck.

Without him, the Rangers will turn back to veteran Jimmy Vesey to fill the void. He’ll play with Carrick and Rempe on the fourth line for Sunday night’s game versus the Golden Knights.

Vesey hasn’t played since Jan. 11. The 31-year-old forward expressed his disappointment in a recent story Larry Brooks of the NY Post wrote. Due to the emergence of Rempe, he fell out of favor. A key secondary scorer on last year’s team that reached the Conference Finals, he totaled 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points in 2023-24. It’s been a different story with Vesey having only three goals and one assist in 26 games this season.

As for Arthur Kaliyev, he remains the odd man out for a second straight game. Jonny Brodzinski, who scored in the third period of yesterday’s game – will center Will Cuylle and Chris Kreider on the third line. Kaliyev looks like the latest casualty under Laviolette, who tends to favor veterans over younger players. It is what it is.