Marian Gaborik’s right knee cut by Lundqvist’s skate during New York Rangers practice

Gaborik’s knee cut by skate in Rangers practice

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Marian Gaborik limped off the ice during practice Tuesday after the New York Rangers’ leading scorer was cut on the right knee by the skate of goalie Henrik Lundqvist in a collision.

Gaborik skated in on Lundqvist during a breakaway drill and tried to jump over his teammate’s outstretched leg when contact was made. The right wing, who has a team-high 35 goals and 69 points, fell to the ice and stayed down for a few moments.

“I thought he was joking,” Lundqvist said. “My skate caught his knee. Hopefully he’ll be OK.”

Gaborik skated off slowly with assistance and didn’t put weight on his right leg. He received stitches at the team’s practice facility, but didn’t require X-rays. He wasn’t available to speak to reporters.

Gaborik’s status for Wednesday night’s home game against Nashville wasn’t immediately clear. He also is slated to play for Slovakia at the Vancouver Olympics.

“Right now, that’s all we think it is,” assistant coach Jim Schoenfeld said. “It’s not like it’s a twist to the groin or the knee. It’s just a laceration.”

Gaborik, who will turn 28 on Sunday, is in the first season of a five-year, $37.5 million deal with the Rangers. After scoring a career-high 42 goals in the 2007-08 season with Minnesota, Gaborik was limited to 17 games last season because of hip surgery.

He has missed two games this season, but Gaborik played more than 65 only one time in his final five seasons with Minnesota. Gaborik has scored at least 30 goals in six of his nine NHL seasons.

The Rangers have three games this week before the NHL takes a two-week Olympic break. New York (26-26-7) will resume play March 2 at Ottawa.