Rangers' Lee Stempniak confirmed as latest NHL player with mumps
New York Rangers right wing Lee Stempniak is the latest NHL player to be diagnosed with the mumps, the team announced Monday.
Stempniak skated alone on Monday but will practice with the team on Tuesday, the Rangers said. He is the third Rangers player diagnosed with the illness, followingTanner Glass and Derick Brassard. New York will travel to Washington to play the Capitals on Tuesday.
Stempniak has appeared in 26 games this season, scoring five goals and adding seven assists.
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The Pittsburgh Penguins also announced on Monday that Steve Downie, Brandon Sutter and Thomas Greiss have been sent home to be tested for the mumps. The players traveled with the team to Florida on Sunday, where the Penguins will play the Panthers on Monday night. All three will be placed in isolation pending the test results. Greiss was tested late last week, but results came back negative.
Penguins starters Sidney Crosby and Olli Maatta also tested positive last week.
Finally, the New Jersey Devilssaid Monday that Patrik Elias and Martin Havlat are being tested. Both players sat out practice on Monday, and the team said they were ill. Travis Zajac and Adam Larsson previously had the mumps.
- Mike Fiammetta