Ugh. Get well soon Anton! (Photo: Sarah Connors/flickrs)

It’s over twelve hours later and I still don’t feel any remorse for the post I wrote last night. Usually I do by now but that’s how badly I think they played. And to hear Torts say “the effort is there”… I honestly just want the season to be over. Which means I expect them to pull out a couple of wins to prolong our agony. As I said, their motto should be “the hard way”.

As for practice today, a couple of good and bad notes. First off, it was an optional practice. I want an explanation of why. I get it’s late in the season (but let’s be honest, it’s really February for these guys) but after a game like last night and their backs completely against the wall, how do you not have an actual full practice today?

The good news is the three guys who missed yesterday’s game, Marc Staal, Darroll Powe and Ryane Clowe, were all on the ice. Clowe, in particular, is a great sign as I was beginning to wonder if he was still with the team. He only skated briefly but even getting on the ice is a good start. I have no idea if any of them are close to being ready but my guess is it won’t matter too much. Carl Hagelin, who was hurt during the third period last night, also skated so he should be fine to go tomorrow.

» Continue reading “Practice Updates From Possibly The Last Rangers Practice Of The Season”

I love the guy on the left but in regards to the one on the right…please be okay, please be okay, please be okay… (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

So how about that game yesterday? Yeah I don’t want to talk about it either. Did you know that no team in history has rallied back from consecutive 2-0 deficits? Well, there’s always a first.

Honestly I have no idea what to expect so not going to try to guess. I did think this was another series that would be tied after four. I just thought they’d split at home and on the road. Oh well. I know the Rangers motto is “the right way” but at this point I think it needs to be changed to “the hard way”.

In regards to actual news, there isn’t much of it today. The main thing everyone was worried about was Henrik Lundqvist’s shoulder, which he apparently hurt late in the third period yesterday afternoon (as if that period could get any worse for the visiting team). The good news is he practiced today and said he would be fine. The bad news is he said it was sore but he could play through it. I’m thinking that will be an issue. If for some reason he can’t go, I think we can all agree the Rangers are done (all due respect to Marty Biron who is an above average goaltender).

» Continue reading “Rangers Walking Wounded: No News Is Bad News”

At least he’s working out off ice… (Photo: Melissa Andus)

Honestly, there wasn’t much news from the Rangers practice earlier today. No one new was on the ice so the lineup is expected to remain the same for game two tomorrow, a game the Rangers kind of have to win.

As for updates on our injured players, Marc Staal snuck on the ice towards the end of the optional skate the Rangers held yesterday but was not out there today. The good news is he did skate and is in Boston. Another player in Boston is Darroll Powe, who was seen doing off-ice workouts yesterday as well. Ryane Clowe, on the other hand, is still in New York (or at least I assume he’s in New York since he isn’t with the team in Boston). That isn’t good news.

The only other news to come out of practice today was this quote from Tortorella:

» Continue reading “Practice Updates: News On Staal, Clowe, Powe + Off Ice Adjustments Needed?”

Photo: Dinur Blum/flickr

Earlier today, it became official – starting next season the Rangers AHL team will no longer be called the Connecticut Whale but will instead revert back to being the Hartford Wolfpack.

I know today’s announcement regarding the name change came with mixed reviews but I’m not sure I understand why. Yes, I realize that Connecticut fans love and miss their Whalers. But this team never was that and maybe it’s me, but I wouldn’t want another team pretending to be my team. (That would be like the Wild saying they are the North Stars or the current Winnipeg Jets saying they are the original ones. They aren’t and fans of the original teams don’t treat them as such.)

» Continue reading “Welcome Back Hartford Wolfpack!”

Welcome back Staalsie!(Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Lost in recapping the heart attack the Rangers gave fans last night, I only briefly mentioned that Marc Staal did indeed rejoin the lineup. He played 21 shifts for a total of 17:17 of ice time – fourth highest among the defense. (John Moore and Michael Del Zotto played less although Del Zotto only played 12 seconds less.)

As to why I didn’t mention this in the recap? Well to be honest he didn’t stand out. Considering what I was expecting, I think that is a good thing. Sure he wasn’t the Marc Staal we all know and love but he was far from a liability and given time, I think he’ll be back to that point soon enough. But watching him during post game interviews – I hadn’t watched video of him recently – you can’t even tell which eye is the issue. Honestly, I’m just glad this wasn’t as serious as it first looked. As Stepan said after the game “everybody really adores Marc” and that includes the fans so I’m just happy to see him back. (Side note: Can Stepan be any more a-dork-able if he tried?)

» Continue reading “Welcome Back Staal + Other Injury Updates”

Sounds like you will be wearing something else when shown on the screen tonight. (Photo: Melissa Andus)

Wait…who’s that guy out there in warmups? He’s about 6’4″ and has red hair. He looks familiar. Maybe he has brothers in the league?

Kidding aside, the rumor is we may witness the return of Marc Staal tonight. I’ve already given my views on this but in case you missed it, you can read them here. I just really hope he isn’t rushing back because the Rangers lost the first two games. And if he is doing that, I hope the team isn’t jeopardizing him in allowing him to do so. (No, I don’t trust the Rangers medical staff. They have given me no reason to the past couple of years.)

Either way, between seeing he was taken off IR on the Rangers website and after reading this tweet, I’m thinking his return is all but confirmed:

I like the way he phrased that. I’ve been wrong about using a lot of guys in the playoffs (see: Kreider, Chris). I hope I’m wrong on this one too.

This man and his mustache might be close to returning. He isn’t the only one. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Today’s practice brought some good news for the Rangers. Everyone, and I mean everyone, was out on the ice preparing for tomorrow’s important game two.

Marc Staal continues to skate in full practice, contact and all, even though there is still no update on his return. (I would love to see him in this series. Unless there is a lot more we don’t know, I don’t expect to.)

Brian Boyle joined him for the second day in a row, skating and wearing a regular jersey that is. He might be the closest to returning although I still don’t know what exactly his original injury was.

For the first time in his Rangers career, Derek Dorsett was also in a regular jersey meaning he is getting closer to a return. Honestly, unless there is a setback, I expect to see him later in the series.

And lastly, Ryane Clowe rejoined practice for the first time since his injury during the end of the regular season. Afterwards he didn’t rule himself out of game two but since he was wearing a non-contact jersey during practice, I can’t see him playing tomorrow. Stranger things have happened though.

So which of these players do I expect to play tomorrow? None…but it does sound like the team is getting close to healthy. That said, anything is possible especially considering what Tortorella said to the media today:

“Because if we don’t win, we’re done. So I don’t give a damn about the conditioning. If I think a player’s going to help us, he’s going to play.”

While I still wouldn’t put Staal right in if he says he’s healthy, he has a point.

Please don’t rush back. That doesn’t help anyone. (Photo: Melissa Andus)

There’s been a lot of talk regarding if Marc Staal will return for the first round or the playoffs at all. When asked today he said he probably wouldn’t play tomorrow but the beat writers got the sense he feels he’s close. It kills me that we have to go through this again with him but at this point, there’s nothing we can do. If Staal is healthy, he will return. There is no question in my mind on that. The question I have is should he?

Let me start by saying of course I want Staal to play as soon as he is healthy enough to. He makes the Rangers defense that much better and hello…he’s Marc Staal. The key in that is his health. Forgive me for questioning them but I’m not fully confident that he will be ready even if he and the trainers say he is.

Everything I have read says that Staal is progressing. That’s great news. But the next sentence is always something along the lines of him needing to get used to his vision being blurry while on the ice. I’m sorry but if his vision is blurry meaning the man can’t see, why are we even discussing his return? I get that these guys are competitors and can play through a ton of different injuries but not being able to see just doesn’t seem like something someone can play through.

If you look at my picture on the right hand side of the page, you will notice I wear glasses. I have since I was in grade school. I would love to say I could see without them but the truth of the matter is the most I could do is walk down an empty hallway. Why? Because everything around me is blurry. If I had to navigate more, could I? Sure, I could try. I mean I wouldn’t drive a car without them but I guess I could walk a little bit further if necessary. Could I track a 3″ black piece of rubber with two guys barreling down on me (assuming I could do that in the first place)? Absolutely not. And we shouldn’t be expecting Staal to do that either.

» Continue reading “Should Marc Staal Return For The Playoffs?”

You should be smiling after the month you had! (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Late last night, the NHL decided to make another spectacle of themselves by announcing in a TV special the schedule for the first round of the playoffs. From the reaction of those who decided to watch it, I’m glad I didn’t waste my time. Seriously NHL, just post it on the website and call it a day.

Anyway, the Rangers start their series on Thursday which isn’t ideal but isn’t the worst thing either. (Extra practice time as well as extra time to get guys healthy makes me not upset about the delay.) Here’s the full schedule:

Game 1: Thursday, May 2, 2013  7:30 PM ET New York at Washington. NBCSN, TSN, MSG

Game 2: Saturday, May4, 2013 12:30PM ET New York at Washington. NBC, TSN

Game 3: Monday, May 6, 2013 7:30PM ET Washington at New York.  NBCSN, TSN, MSG

Game 4: Wednesday, May 8, 2013 7:30PM ET Washington at New York.  NBCSN, TSN, MSG

*Game 5: Friday, May 10, 2013 7:30PM ET New York at Washington.  TSN, MSG

*if necessary

» Continue reading “Schedule Released + Stepan Gets Recognition”

Congrats on the latest edition to your family! (Photo: Melissa Andus)

I always love when I can place Dan Girardi and Marc Staal in the same sentence, especially when it’s regarding good news. Yesterday, the New York Rangers’ chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association announced that Staal had been nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy and Girardi was the recipient of the John Halligan Good Guy Award.

» Continue reading “Congrats to Staal, Girardi, Asham + More Rangers Notes”