Rangers’ Adam Fox is being evaluated for an upper-body injury

The New York Rangers are in wait-and-see mode on one of the top defensive players in the league.

Adam Fox was forced to leave Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third period with an upper body injury and did not return.

Fox suffered a severe shoulder-to-shoulder check on Lightning forward Brandon Hagel.

Head coach Mike Sullivan didn’t have much to say about the status of his star defense after the game, other than that the focus is still being evaluated.

If he is out for any length of time, it will be a big blow to the 13-12-2 Rangers, as Fox has been one of the lone bright spots for the team this season.

With three goals and 23 assists in 27 games this season, Fox is second in scoring defensemen behind only Kelly Meeker.

It could also be a potential blow to the US for the next Olympics if the timeline is long.