Coach Laviolette explains what it means to have Blake Wheeler back in their lineup

In case you missed the news at puck drop, but the New York Rangers removed forward Filip Chytil from their lineup in favor of veteran winger Blake Wheeler.

Chytil is reportedly healthy, but with a history of concussion issues and with relatively limited action this season the Rangers have decided to take a unique approach with his playing time. He'll sit tonight and Wheeler draws into the lineup for the first time since February due to gruesome leg injury that forced him to miss the team's final 28 regular season games.

He's been practicing with the team, but until today he hasn't been cleared 100% to return to action.

"Everybody when they come back from a substantial injury, at some point they're cleared, but there's parts where they have to make sure that their game is there as well based on whatever they're dealing with," Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette said this week. "It could be conditioning, it could be game play, it could be your hands. It could be anything just to try to get up to speed and get into the playoffs."

Tonight Wheeler was cleared for action and is playing his first Stanley Cup Playoff game with the Rangers. 

During a break in action during the first period, Laviolette was asked what Wheeler's return to the lineup means for his team and offered up a great reply.

Check it out:

Read below for our earlier reports on this game, published as events occurred.

Vincent Trocheck has broken the ice early in Game 4.

New York Rangers forward Trocheck opened the scoring against the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final this evening.

Trocheck's powerplay goal was the first man-advantage goal that the Rangers have scored since their previous round matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Check out this absolute snipe from Trocheck in the center of the ice:

A goal so nice that we've got to see it twice!

Another view:

That's 1-0 Rangers in the always pivotal Game 4.

Read below for our earlier reports on this game, published as events occurred.

This just in, the New York Rangers have removed forward Filip Chytil from the lineup for Game 4 against the Florida Panthers this evening.

From Rangers insider Dan Rosen:

Filip has not played regularly since November and is coming off of a serious concussion, so it makes sense that the Rangers would look to limit his play. Veteran Blake Wheeler slots into the lineup in his place.