Blue Notes
Steve Zipay takes you inside the locker room, home and on the road, with the New York Rangers, and also writes about the NHL, off and on the ice.
NHL first-round schedule, beyond NYR-Washington
EASTERN CONFERENCE
No. 1 Penguins vs. No. 8 Islanders Game 1, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.at Pittsburgh Game 2, Friday 7 p.m. at Pittsburgh Game 3, May 5, Noon at Nassau Coliseum Game 4, May 7, 7 p.m. at Nassau Coliseum Game 5 May 9, 7 p.m. at Pittsburgh Game 6 May 11, TBD, at Nassau Coliseum Game 7 May 12, TBD, at Pittsburgh
No. 2 Canadiens vs. No. 7 Senators Game 1 Thursday, 7 p.m.at Montreal...
Read more »Rangers-Caps: The Schedule (Updated: Note 6-7)
Game 1, in Washington, Thursday, 7:30 p.m
Game 2, in Washington, Sat, 12:30 p.m
Game 3, in New York, Monday, 7:30 p.m.
Game 4, in New York, Wednesday. 7:30 p.m.
Game 5: in Wash, Friday 5/10 7:30pm
Game 6: in NY, Sun 5/12 TBD (assume afternoon, because check next...
Game 7: in Wash, Monday. 5/13 TBD
Two potential deciding games, back to...
Read more »After 4-0 win and Sens loss, NYR will face Caps in 1st round
For the second time in two years, the Rangers will face the Capitals in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Rangers, with home ice advantage in the second round, survived in seven games last season. The Caps will have that edge this time.
Last season, every game but the first was decided by a goal. The goaltender battle was Lundqvist vs. Holtby
Game 1: NY 3, Caps 1
Game 2: Caps...
Read more »Henrik Lundqvist in net vs. Devils
It'll be Lundqvist's 14th straight start. Johan Hedberg in for Devils.
Arron Asham and Kris Newbury in lineup; Ryane Clowe and Matt Gilroy out.
Expect game to start around 3:20. It's an NBC telecast.
Torts on Lundqvist: "He’s fine…I want to keep progressing as a team. We’re playing our best lineup because we’re trying to go as high as we can (in the standings).”...
Read more »To avoid Pens, NYR must make point vs. Devils today
Well, it's down to the wire...
With the Islanders (55 points) grabbing a point in the 2-1 shootout loss to the Sabres Friday, they are in sixth place in the ever-changing East. The seventh-place Ottawa Senators and the eighth-place Rangers have 54.
So, since the Rangers hold the first tiebreaker with the Islanders (regulation and overtime wins), to finish at least seventh, the Rangers...
Read more »Ryane Clowe doesn't practice with Rangers, Kris Newbury recalled
Photo credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
Forward Ryane Clowe did not practice with the team on Friday, a day after he left the Rangers’ playoff-clinching victory over Carolina with an undisclosed injury.
“I’m not sure what all falls into place as far as when playoffs start, but I’m projecting him to be a pretty important playoff player for us,” coach John Tortorella said after practice. “He has the experience, he has the heavy body...
Read more »Rangers-Devils: All about seeding and subs
After that fluky bounce on Brad Richards’ shot to tie the game in Carolina Thursday and the Captain Clutch effort from Ryan Callahan with the PCG (playoff-clinching goal, an over-time-less beauty), the Rangers have one more game to play before they know who their...
Read more »John Tortorella: Derek Stepan 'our most consistent player'
Photo credit: Jim McIsaac
Third-year center Derek Stepan leads the Rangers in points (42), assists (25) and plus-minus (+23). After tallying just 10 points during the first two months of the season, Stepan turned it on for the stretch run, and added a goal and assist against Carolina on Thursday as the Rangers finally clinched a playoff berth.
Rangers coach John Tortorella, speaking after practice at the Madison Square...
Read more »NYR lineup change: Matt Gilroy in for Arron Asham
Defenseman Matt Gilroy, who had been a healthy scratch for 21 games, was pressed into service as a forward here in Raleigh tonight, when Arron Asham was scratched. He left to be with his wife, who is expecting a baby.
Gilroy, who was assigned to the fourth line, last played on March 10 and 12 on the road against Washington and Buffalo. He did not dress for five games before that.
The...
Read more »Things to know before Rangers-Canes: '2 points, that’s all'
1. Bottom line here in Raleigh: In with a win.
“We’ve just got to get two points, that’s all," said Ryan McDonagh. "You’d rather have that than be on the outside, looking, hoping and wishing. We can just focus on ourselves and our game.”
2. What do Blueshirts, who will dress the same lineup, with Henrik Lundqvist in goal, need to do better than in the Florida loss? “Forecheck...
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