When Ruslan Fedotenko went down on Sunday after taking a
puck off his hand all New York Rangers fans collectively, “not again,” when it
comes to another player going down with a broken hand having just lost Ryan
Callahan, Chris Drury twice this season and Brandon Dubinsky in similar
scenarios. Everyone would take a sigh of
relief after the game when it was announced that it was just a bad bruise and
nothing was broken. The news continues
to get better as Fedotenko was able to practice today with his typical line and
is expected to play tomorrow against the Hurricanes.
Fedotenko, 31, was originally brought to New York as a
tryout player mainly due to his history with coach John Tortorella but he has
made the most of his opportunity and become a vital part of the Rangers lineup. If you missed the play from Sunday’s game
here is the video
of not only Fedotenko blocking the initial McCabe shot, getting injured,
but how he got back up and continued to drop down to block more shots. That is the kind of play the Rangers have
been getting from him all season and why having him available for tomorrow’s
game against Carolina is very good news.
In terms of recent recall Ryan McDonagh, Andrew
Gross, has quality as always in the wide ranging discussion that touched on
his relationship with Stepan both at Wisconsin and this season while they have
been separated and further evidence of what we have talked about before
concerning the mentoring that Wade Redden has done in Hartford.
The article talks about how not only have McDonagh and
Redden played on the ice together, but been roommates on the road allowing
McDonagh to inundate Redden with questions which has helped in the transition
in all facets of the game; particularly the mental ones. Gross also addresses the issue of whether
McDonagh will actually get to play and it is not at all surprising having
followed McDonagh from his Wisconsin days to see the way he handled himself in
answering questions on the topic and his philosophy on how to play the game in
general. Check out the link, it is worth
it as always.
Finally as always Bruce
Berlet and the crew over at Howlings do a great job covering the Whale and
he discusses among other things Michael Del Zotto and his adjustment to being
down in the minors. Del Zotto is saying
all the right things today about doing the work and what he has to change in
his game, but personally I am going to wait until he shows it this time to
believe he fully understands playing simple is what is necessary. The quotes and work are worth the read and
there is also discussion of the change in McDonagh’s game from the beginning of
the year to where it is now.
The only bit of news from the article I will spoil is that
Del Zotto has chosen a number for the Whale and it will not be his typical
number 4 as Stu Bickel already had the number 4. It will be the number 2 which is not a way to
lessen the pressure on the young man, but Rangers fans do not get excited it is
not in ode to Brian Leetch it is still about Bobby Orr as it was the number Orr
wore while he was in Junior hockey.
