The Rangers have had the past two days off so now less than 24 hours before the next game New York Rangers fans and likely the team are getting antsy for the game to just get here already. The wait seems longer since the opponent Penguins played on national coverage against the hated Flyers and the Flyers would end the Pens 12 game winning streak. Will the loss make the Penguins easier or tougher for the Rangers tomorrow when they meet in Pittsburgh? Will the Penguins sit Marc-Andre Fleury now that the streak is over? Find out those things along with my keys for the Rangers to win their second in as many trips to Pittsburgh in the full preview of the Rangers at Penguins.
Obviously we cannot look at tomorrow’s game without talking about the return of Chris Drury and when you talk about the return of Drury you focus on two things: Who is he is going to play with and who is coming out of the lineup? Today’s news from practice will answer both of those questions, one which I am happy to see what I hoped for playing out and the other surprising in the scratch that could be made while pondered down the road was not really considered for tomorrow. The key for this team is to continue to play the same game as they were playing before Drury and just let him add where he can and I think the placement of Drury on the line he is planned for does the best job of that.
Speaking of playing the way there were before Drury came into the lineup, this morning’s article dealt with how the Rangers have finally found a collective/team identity and it is helping to produce better results for the club. I go through where you can see the differences, what that identity is, why it is producing better results and what questions are left to be answered for the club in relation to this identity.
Early this afternoon it was reported by Larry B rooks in what is now becoming a saga like situation that the reports of a few days ago saying that Tim Kennedy could seek a trade with another club were shot down by Glen Sather and that Kennedy will not be put on re-entry waivers by the Rangers. Check out my take on the situation, why he re-entry waivers makes no sense for the Rangers to do, and what Tim Kennedy might be wishing he had done this summer to be in a different scenario right now.
In prospect news there was a report in the Windsor Star regarding the Rangers interest or potential lack of interest in signing Senior forward Carl Hagelin this summer before he would become a free agent. Inside is exactly what was said in the Windsor star, my take on the move if the Rangers make it, how it could be similar to another personnel decision the Rangers have made on a prospect of late and which team is said to be ready to sign the Michigan captain if he hits free agency.
Finally in the video segment there is the brilliant save that Jonathan Quick made to rob Tomas Holmostrom Monday night in the Kings 5-0 win along with a brawl in the KHL 6 seconds into a game involving former Ranger Jaromir Jagr’s Avangard Omsk club.
