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Marc Staal won’t play tonight after returning Monday

Marc Staal

Marc Staal #18 of the New York Rangers skates against the Washington Capitals in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 6, 2013 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Capitals 4-3. (May 5, 2013 - Source: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America)

Defenseman Marc Staal returned for Game 3 of the New York Rangers’ first-round series against the Washington Capitals on Monday after missing roughly two months due to a scary eye injury.

The Rangers have moved him back on the sidelines though after he logged 17:17 minutes in his return. He wasn’t statistically noteworthy in the Rangers’ 4-3 victory, but he did have an impact in that contest.

“It’s huge. He makes the D-core calm,” Rangers forward Derek Stepan said after Monday’s game. “He’s got a presence about him that he can just control a game. He did a great job tonight.”

It’s not clear why Staal isn’t playing, but he did admit on Monday that his “eye was kind of acting up” last week, according to the Bergen Record’s Tom Gulitti.

The good news for New York Rangers’ fans is Ryane Clowe will return from an undisclosed injury. He’s projected to play with Derek Dorsett and Arron Asham in his 2013 playoffs debut.