Rangers' Adam Fox provides immediate impact in return from injury but it's not enough in loss to Capitals

WASHINGTON – The Rangers began the second half of their season with something they produced far too often in the first: a loss, this time 6-3 to the Capitals on Wednesday.

But at least there was a ray of hope at Capital One Arena in the form of Adam Fox, a potential difference-maker for this drifting Rangers team.

You might recall the star defenseman from Jericho, last seen playing on Nov. 29, when he suffered an apparent shoulder injury.

He was activated from long-term injured reserve on Wednesday and reminded everyone what the Rangers have been missing.

“I thought he had a strong game,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “I thought he played real well. I think you can see the impact he has on our team.”

Most notable was the fact that the first time the Rangers got an extra man, their power-play quarterback immediately jump-started the struggling unit.

His long, straight-on blast beat Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren to the glove side at 15:17 of the second period to trim Washington’s lead to 3-2.

“I think it might have been the hardest shot I’ve ever seen him take,” Sullivan said. “It was a bomb.”

Coaches have been encouraging Fox to take such shots, because, as Sullivan said, even when he does not score on them, he creates dangerous rebound opportunities.

“Obviously, I want to come back and help the power play,” Fox said. “That’s an important part of games.”

With the Rangers playing so many close, low-scoring contests, Fox said, special teams loom even larger.

Fox alone cannot save the Rangers, who have one victory in regulation time in their past 13 games. They are 1-3-1 in their last five.

On top of that, they are running short of forwards, with J.T. Miller still out and rookie Noah Laba (upper body) and Conor Sheary (lower body) both leaving Wednesday’s game and not returning.

“We have to find a way to stop the bleeding here and get a win,” Mika Zibanejad said.

The next chance is at the NHL Winter Classic against the Panthers in Miami on Friday night.

Fox said after the game he had not heard one way or the other whether he will be on the United States’ Olympic team. That announcement will come on Friday, but ESPN reported on Wednesday night that Fox did not make the team.

But the Rangers are a more immediate concern for him.

Fox said the first period was a feeling out process. Had he been in game shape, he said, he might have been able to prevent the Caps’ first goal, scored by Anthony Beauvillier with Fox in the vicinity.

Later in the first, Fox got the second assist on a goal by Vincent Trocheck.

“After the first period, I was able to settle in and play a bit more of my game,” he said.

Fox said of being out so long, “It sucks when you’re away. Obviously, it was an unfortunate situation, but happy to be back, obviously just trying to help the team as much as I can.”

He added, “You’re looking at the standings every day and we know how tight it is, and especially these division games are massive.”

The Capitals scored the first two goals of the second period.

First, Tom Wilson beat Jonathan Quick to make it 2-1. The Rangers were short on manpower at the time because Laba was on the ice writhing in pain after a hit from Wilson.

Less than two minutes later, Wilson was fighting with the Rangers’ Sam Carrick. Carrick got a roughing penalty tacked onto his five for fighting and it proved costly.

Soon thereafter, Alex Ovechkin found Justin Sourdif alone in front, and it was 3-1.

After Fox made it 3-2, the Capitals regained control with goals by Aliaksei Protas and Wilson at 13:34 and 16:37 of the third period.

Fox said he did not want to rush his return because of the team’s problems or the Winter Classic.

“You don’t want to come back tentative,” he said. “I think that was the biggest thing in terms of when I did come back and play. You’ve got to be willing take hits.”

Now he has a game under his belt, and he will be in Florida for the fun – and for another chance for this listing Rangers ship to right itself.

“Obviously, it’s a cool game for us to be part of, families on down,” Fox said, “but there’s still a long season after that. That was definitely the goal in the rehab process, but not something I would have rushed back for.”

Perhaps not, but there was this to rush back for: The Rangers need him.

By Neil Best

neil.best@newsday.com@sportswatch

Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.