The Last Time The Rangers Visited Philly: The Pain of Being a Fan

As a fan there are many bad things that come from rooting for a team in any sport.  In hockey other than just injuries the list includes: missing the playoffs; losing to a rival; being beaten by a backup goalie; having stars not show up for critical game.  For the Rangers fans in their teams’ last trip to Philly for Game 82 of the season last year all of those things happened.  To miss the playoffs is always a bad feeling, to miss it by one point is even worse, to miss it by losing to the Flyers worse yet to miss it by 1 point because you lost a shootout pitting your star goalie against Brian “Water Boy” Boucher is only exponentially compounds the anger and heartbreak.  

More Late Injury News: Lundqvist and Gaborik

As I am sure you have read everwhere by now Henrik Lundqvist was hit in the neck by a Brian Boyle shot in practice, was dazed, short of breath momentarily but is now said to be fine and could start tomorrow vs Phi.  The one who seemed the most shaken was Boyle because if he had actually seriously injured the King all of NY might have sought to destroy him.  This is what happens when you unleash the wrath of the new Brian Boyle, you just cannot ask him to contain his dominance at any point, even practice against his own franchise goaltender.

On the Gaborik front he took another step in his recovery skating again, this time with gear, though still alone.  He took shots again and still no timetable on his return.  If I was to project one for his return I figure he gets at least a week with some contact and in practice and since he hasnt even started skating with others even without contact yet I say 11/17 vs Boston as the general time I would expect him back.

Personal Note: Sorry for the lack of either updates or timely news the past few days, but as you know yesterday was Election Day and I was in a bunch of places for that and this morning was a recharge the batteries moment.  As of now should be back to normal here.

Who Should/Would have Taken Cally's Spot Tomorrow

In one of those score one for not having to actually face the decision moments because it appears that Ryan Callahan will be able to play tomorrow after sitting out practice this morning after taking stitches to his ankle, let's look at what could have been.  It would have been unlikely that they would have broken up the Avery-Boyle-Fedetenko line because it has been producing and the combination of Avery and Ruslan has been very effective all season virtually regardless of their center.  The main options to take the spot on the first line RW probably would have included: Frolov, Prust, White and possibly Grachev or Stepan.

Join me after the jump to take a look at the rationale for and against each of those options.

Rangers Bring Dirty Work Home to Clip Hawks 3-2

The Rangers took the ice in the Garden against the Blackhawks trying to be the defending champs but also learn how to actually win on home ice. Coming in the Rangers were 1-3-1 at home and tonight they played a home game in the same style they say you should and the Rangers have played a road game.

The Night In Video

Recap coming soon:

Dubi Goal 1.



Dubi x 2


EC winner:


Henrik on Sharp breakaway


Hank stones Kopecky w 1 min left


Hanks seals game

New York Rangers vs Chicago Blackhawks Pregame

Rangers (5-4-1) at Chicago (7-5-1)

Key Opposing Player: Patrick Sharp (10-5-15)

Lineup:

Dubinsky-Anisimov-Callahan

Avery-Boyle-Fedetenko

Frolov-Christensen-Prust

White-Stepan-Grachev

Staal - Rozsival
Del Zotto - Girardi
Gilroy-Sauer

Lundqvist

Biron

(Boogaard appears to be a scratch from morning skate.  Call the defensive change by me a guess that says maybe just maybe Torts talk of wanting Sauer in was genuine and he actually does something about it.)

Injury Updates: Gaborik, Prospal, Drury

Today we have some injury recovery news on all three of the major Rangers who are out of the lineup at the moment; Marian Gaborik, Vinny Prospal and Chris Drury.

Gaborik skated on the ice for the first time since his injury this morning.  He skated for 20-30 minutes alone just getting a feel for being back on the ice and even took some wrist shots.  Gaborik said he is is feeling pretty good but they are not going to rush him back into the lineup and there is no real timetable right now.  I think this is the right move for him as he still has lingering soreness and hasnt regained full range of motion and the last thing this team needs is for him to be rushed back and have a setback.

Gaborik:

“I’ll take it day by day,” Gaborik said. “I don’t want to say there’s a timetable or when I’ll play. (My range) is pretty good, I’ve just got to get it pain free…I’m very anxious. I can’t wait to play but I can’t get ahead of myself. It’s definitely tough to watch.”

Prospal was working with the hand bike but doing no leg work as he works his way back from his recent knee surgery.  He is still probably at least a month away as is Captain Chris Drury who was also lifting weights off ice in his efforts to maintain conditioning

Grachev Staying for Now

As per Jesse Spector, coach John Tortorella has stated that Grachev will be staying in the NHL:

“He’s gonna play,” Tortorella said. “We’re gonna keep him here right now, and I want to see more of him, and hopefully he can keep on growing, and as long as he protects the puck, I think the other parts of his game will come into play because I think he’ll get more minutes.”

Stepan: Is The Hartford Option Viable?

Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images

The fact that Derek Stepan would experience some growing pains at the NHL level is no surprise for me and it is true of nearly all players as they come into the league.  That he has done so to a point where Tortorella even without Drury in the lineup has moved Stepan all the way to the 4^th line and is playing him 10:39, 12:14 and 9:44 the last 3 games does surprise me.  To me from the middle of last week the move is that when Drury comes back if the level of play for Derek doesn’t pick up is sending him down to Hartford.  Heck it is a move that I would suggest if he is going to play 10 minutes a night with at least a decent portion of it on a line with Derek Boogaard and Grachev who isn’t ready for the NHL right now.

For Anyone Still Wondering MZA Not Leaving

Sorry for being late to squash this, but being out doing election work did let me do it during the day.  Anyway, dont really know why this was taken as far as it was by some, but MZA is not going back to Sweden.  If he did go he would kiss his NHL career goodbye and I do not see him giving up on it that quick nor do I see the Rangers giving up on him that quickly.  It would be a nightmare for both sides as the Rangers once again would have signed a sought after free agent and failed to develop them into an NHL guy worth money the Rangers paid them.  On MZA's side as I said it would probably ruin his chances in the NHL at least for the foreseeable future as he would be seen as unable or unwilling to adjust to the North American game.  There is a slim possibility in my opinion of him going back after the year if a combination of his struggles and him being used inappropriately continue.  If I was him and I was the best player in the Sweedish Elite League last season and now I am playing on the fourth line under a coach who has done nothing I would be unhappy too.  He can make plenty of money in Europe if he decides North America and the NHL is not what he wants.