Veleno leaves Rangers game vs. Mammoth in 1st period with injury

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Veleno leaves Rangers game vs. Mammoth in 1st period with injury

Veleno leaves Rangers game vs. Mammoth in 1st period with injury — IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Jim Cerny · Forever Blueshirts

Sun, Oct 4, 2026 ·

3 min read

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Joe Veleno departed the New York Rangers game Sunday against the Utah Mammoth midway through the first period with a lower-body injury and didn't return.

The Rangers officially ruled him out for the rest of the game at the start of the second period. The Rangers defeated the Mammoth 4-2 for their third straight victory.

The 26-year-old center was hurt on his third shift, just 9:21 into the game, when his lower body twisted awkwardly after he turned to chase and slow down speedy Mammoth forward Clayton Keller, who flew into the Rangers zone on left wing. Veleno slowly picked himself up and had trouble getting over the boards and on to the Rangers bench.

#90 Veleno went down awkwardly, you can see he's in pain on the bench. #NYR pic.twitter.com/KgQ9aO0fT1

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) October 4, 2026

Shortly after, Veleno departed from the bench and was helped to the Rangers dressing room.

Coach Mike Sullivan didn't have an update postgame, saying only that Veleno was still being evaluated by medical personnel.

"It wasn't easy because we lost him so early in the game," Sullivan explained Sunday , when asked how the Rangers were most affected by Veleno's loss. "And we've really liked in the early going our ability to use four lines and use the bench. I think it helps us play with the pace and the intensity that's required to have success in this league."

In addition, Sullivan noted that "it placed a bigger burden" on 33-year-old centers Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller to play more minutes than he'd prefer. Zibanejad logged a game-high and season-high 24:32 TOI against the Mammoth.

Veleno entered the game averaging 14:45 TOI and winning 53.9 percent of his face-offs. He's centered the fourth line and played a key role on the penalty kill in the first three games and the start to this fourth one.

NHL: Preseason-New Jersey Devils at New York Rangers — Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesCredit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

"Joe's played really well for us," Sullivan said. "His line has been solid … we trust that they can play against anybody, and Joe's a big part of it. He's also been a big part of the penalty kill."

The Rangers don't have an extra center on their 23-man roster behind regulars Zibanejad, Miller, Noah Laba , and Veleno. Will Cuylle takes face-offs on the second power-play unit, but the extra forward is Matt Rempe , who's not an NHL center.

If Veleno misses any time, the Rangers could bring someone up from Hartford of the American Hockey League. Rookie center Cole Beaudoin had three points (goal, two assists) in his pro debut for Hartford on Saturday, and already added two more assists Sunday against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Justin Dowling and Juuso Parssinen are veteran center options at Hartford, and 6-foot-7 Dylan Roobroeck had a strong preseason and is in his third season with Hartford.

The Rangers signed Veleno to a one-year, $1.2 million contract in free agency on July 1. New York is not only his fourth team he's played for in the NHL ,but his fourth Original 6 team. He's also played for the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, and Montreal Canadiens.

Last season, the 2018 first-round pick (by the Red Wings) had five points (two goals, three assists) and won 51.6 percent of his face-offs in 61 games with the Canadiens.

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