Marc Staal practiced outdoors on Sunday with his New York Rangers teammates, but he won't be playing in the Winter Classic against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday afternoon. Head coach John Tortorella told the media that he'll use his same lineup against the Flyers in the fifth-annual outdoor game, and that means he'll be without the services of his No. 1 defenseman for a little bit longer.
As for his eventual return? Tortorella isn't having that discussion.
"I told my trainer, I need a yes or a no," Torts said Sunday at Citizens Bank Park. "I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to speculate. I don't want percentages. I want a yes or a no. When I get a yes, he'll play. Nothing has changed."
Staal hasn't played since suffering a concussion in February. He was cleared for contact on Monday and was hoping to potentially return for the Winter Classic, but now that won't happen.
For more on this year's Winter Classic, head over to SB Nation's Rangers blog Blueshirt Banter and Flyers blog Broad Street Hockey. For everything Winter Classic in the build-up to the game, head over to our NHL Winter Classic StoryStream.
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