Rangers: Staal Suffered Concussion But Is Already Feeling Better

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It appears that Marc Staal and the Rangers have dodged a pretty significant bullet.

Head coach Alain Vigneault told the media prior to Tuesday's game against Nashville that the star defenseman did indeed suffer a concussion against the Devils on Saturday night, but that he was already feeling better.

Staal was injured when he took a hit to the chin from New Jersey's Reid Boucher during the third period.

Vigneault said team doctors do not believe the injury is as serious as the concussion that sidelined Staal for three dozen games to begin the 2011-12 season. He also said the 26-year-old blueliner has been in contact with the same Michigan-based neurologist, Dr. Jeffrey Scott Kutcher, that treated forwards Rick Nash and Taylor Pyatt.

"We've been advised by our doctors that they don't feel it's as serious as what he might have had in the past, so he's feeling better, and we'll take it day-by-day," Vigneault said.

According to Vigneault, the neurologist said he "doesn't feel the need to see (Staal in person) at this point."

The Rangers are currently 15-15-1 and sit 12 points back of first-place Pittsburgh in the Metropolitan Division.