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Rangers defenseman Marc Staal expected to fully recover

DOCTORS ARE optimistic that New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal will recover fully after being struck in the eye by a deflected puck.

DOCTORS ARE optimistic that New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal will recover fully after being struck in the eye by a deflected puck.

Staal was injured Tuesday night in the third period of New York's 4-2 victory over the Flyers. The 26-year-old defenseman will be sidelined indefinitely, but was already showing improvement on Wednesday, the Rangers said in a statement.

Staal's specific injury hasn't been disclosed.

"Marc Staal was examined today in New York by Dr. Mark Fromer, ophthalmologist, and Dr. Mendel Markowitz, maxillofacial surgeon," the statement said. "The injury has improved significantly and both doctors are optimistic that Marc will make a full recovery."

Staal went down 5:45 into the third period when a shot by Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen from the blue line clipped the stick of Flyers forward Jake Voracek and caromed up into Staal's eye, causing a cut. Staal, who wasn't wearing a visor, writhed on the ice and kicked his legs. He held his face while he was down and when he skated off the ice, assisted by a Rangers trainer, toward the dressing room.

Staal has two goals and nine assists this season while playing in all 21 games.

The Rangers added veteran depth to their defense corps when Roman Hamrlik was claimed off waivers from Washington. Hamrlik, 38, the active leader with 1,383 NHL games played, was waived Tuesday after playing in only four games this season. He is in the final season of a 2-year, $7 million contract.

Noteworthy * 

Florida center Stephen Weiss will have season-ending surgery on his right wrist next Tuesday. He had surgery on the same wrist 4 years ago.

In Wednesday's games * 

At Toronto, Phil Kessel had a goal and two assists to help the Maple Leafs hold off the Ottawa Senators, 5-4, in the latest installment of the Battle of Ontario.

Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk each had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs, who built leads of 3-0 and 5-2 before Ottawa scored twice in the final 8 minutes.

Toronto moved two points ahead of the Senators for fifth place in the Eastern Conference halfway through the season, shortened to 48 games by the NHL lockout. The teams entered tied for third in the Northeast Division.

Jay McClement and Nazem Kadri also scored for the Maple Leafs.

Mika Zibanejad, Zack Smith, Daniel Alfredsson and Colin Greening had the goals for Ottawa, which dropped to 3-7-2 on road. The Senators are 9-1-2 at home.

* At Chicago, Jonathan Toews scored a shorthanded goal to tie the game early in the third period and Dan Carcillo netted the game-winner with 50 seconds remaining to give the Blackhawks a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Chicago (21-0-3) continued its record-setting pace with an 11th consecutive victory and extended its unbeaten streak to 24 games.

Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa was out of the lineup with an upper-body injury.