Poll: Who Do You Want Paired With Gaborik?

So, Seeing As How I Had a Mock Election We Must Have a Vote To Determine At Least a Fan Winner for Gaborik's Line-mates.




If another combination just leave the players in the comments

Gaborik Primary: Which Candidates Should Get First Chance To Be "Running-Mates"

Being that Gaborik is officially said to be playing tomorrow versus Buffalo at the Garden it is time to take a look at who will and maybe more importantly who should get the job of being his line-mates.  In the buildup to his comeback it has been all but assumed that Frolov would be his left wing and that the only debate to have was about the center with two consistent names in the conversation; Derek Stepan and Erik Christensen.  Since I prefer a little out of the box thinking I will try some on the topic and see what develops.  In doing so I will take some political background and mesh it with this current race to be the running-mates for Gaborik.

Gaborik Officially In: Rozsival Out With Shoulder Sprain

In a follow-up to today's practice news, according Andrew Gross, Tortorella has officially ruled Gaborik as in for tomorrow, which is very good news for the Rangers offense as Dubinsky and Boyle (yes, Boyle) will finally have some goal scoring reinforcements.  The ruling in of Gaborik came after a meeting between Tortorella and Gaborik in which the player reportedly told the coach he was ready and that was something Tortorella liked.

In the bad news category a huge blow for the defense as Michal Rozsival is going to be out a week to ten days with a shoulder injury.  As hard as it is for many Ranger fans to believe this is a huge loss as Rozi has been excellent this year, though not so much on the game winner last night.  Apparently the injury is something that Rozi has been playing with, but got to be too much and will now rest to try and ease the issue.  The immediate fallout is that Gilroy will get another shot in the lineup, and apparently Eminger is going to be playing with Del Zotto while Staal and Girardi are put back together.  I obviously have no worries about Staal and Girardi playing together but the rest of the pairs is concerning defensively and I would have rather elevated Sauer even to play with Staal and left MDZ with Girardi to create more balance in the pairs.  I would not expect a call-up from Hartford in the interim.  Going to be a long week for Lundqvist.

Rangers Practice News 11/10/2010: Gaborik Back Tomorrow?

If there is ever to be real anticipation about practice news today seemed to be a day that would have been it, though it was also dulled by coach John Tortorella suggesting before last night’s game that Marian Gaborik probably wouldn’t play Thursday against Buffalo.  Still there was anticipation on practice to see what the results would be for the Rangers star winger.  What resulted was a set of mixed signals that leave me believing that he is going to play tomorrow, but probably shouldn’t.

Rangers Continue To Struggle In Final Period

Last season when the Rangers had their first full training camp under head coach John Tortorella one of the things that was stressed the most was how much Tortorella’s conditioning drills would pay off for the Rangers in 3^rd periods and in back to back games.  It does stand to reason that the best conditioned team would have an advantage later in games.  Last season this theory played out to a very impressive 32-1-5 mark when they had the lead after two periods, but an awful 1-25-2 mark when they trailed after two periods, which means they were also 5-7-4 in games in which the score was tied with 20 minutes to go. 

Video: Tortorella Press Conference After Capitals Loss

Watching this press conference was painful because you can see the frustration in Tortorella but he is to a degree holding himself back this year and for whatever reason seemingly trying to be nicer with the media and more positive about the club. Definitely see the tug and pull of his personality in this one.

Boyle and Boogaard Can't Scare Up Two Points In Rangers 5-3 Loss to Capitals.

Scott Levy/NHLI via Getty Images

Not even a combined three goals from the giants that are Brian Boyle and Derek Boogaard could get the Rangers a much needed home ice victory as they fell 5-3 to the Capitals and maybe more importantly to a pitiful 2-5-1 on home ice on the young season.  The positive story of the night that will get lost was the two goals adding to his new career high of 7 for Brian Boyle as it will be overshadowed by enforcer Derek Boogaard netting his first goal since 2006 ending a 234 game drought that was seen as likely to break Ken Danyeko's record for most consecutive games without a goal. The effort was much better tonight and the Rangers had multiple leads but could not stop the high powered Capitals attack enough on the evening and they are not talented enough even at full strength to just trade chances with the club on the side of the ice tonight.  For the most part they did a pretty good job of containing Ovechkin, Semin, Backstrom and Green, but it was the supporting cast showing why the Capitals are again considered a contender as they picked up the goal scoring slack and the team still came away with 5 with none of the stars scoring a goal.  Ranger fans will no doubt spend the next two days perched on the ledge, praying for the return of their superstar forward, but don't expect him to ride and save the day until at least Sunday and remember as bad as it looks the team is still 7-7-1 after 15 games.  Of more concern is the home record and the fact that the Rangers are now 1-7-1 when tied or trailing heading into the 3rd period.

Full details of the game inside.

Video: Boogaard Goal

The event that everyone predicted coming into the game I am sure.

Rangers vs Capitals: Final Notes (Injury Timetables)

The only scratch from the lineup tonight will be Matt Gilroy again on defense.  Tortorella said he has to play his top six D and obviously he does not see Gilroy as fitting in that description as this will be his 5th straight scratch.  The lineup is as I projected in the pregame notes:

Dubinsky-Anisimov-Callahan
Avery-Boyle-Prust
Frolov-Stepan-Fedotenko
Boogaard-Christensen-White

Other player comments were he just wants a goal from the Frolov-Stepan-Fed combination and that Christensen isnt giving enough production but will stay in for now.

On Injured players

• Jesse Spector infers from Tortorella comments that Gaborik more likely for Sunday than Thursday (I prefer that as I dont think 2 days of contact practice is enough)
• Prospal timetable laid-out as Mid-Late December
• No timetable on Drury

Video: The King Robbing the Caps Over Last Few Years

No doubt the Rangers will need a few of these type saves if they are going to win tonight.

Henrik high glove on Semin last season