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.
Three rookies start on B's defense
Seems like a break for the Rangers to open the series.
Bruins coach Claude Julien said it "doesn't look good" for defensemen Wade Redden, Andrew Ference and Dennis Seidenberg, who didn't skate today.
Two rookies: Matt Bartkowski (2 playoff games) and Torey Krug (none) are stepping in. Dougie Hamilton has been playing.
And C Brad Marchand left the skate at TD Garden...
Read more »Game Day Live: Lineups, quotes, chat all coming up
Photo credit: Jim McIsaac
Greetings from Boston, where the British have come and gone, I'm told.
Coffee in hand and settled in after the drive north last night, and along with colleagues Arthur Staple and Anthony Rieber, we'll be at the off-day practices, skates and Games 1 and 2 here as the Eastern Conference Semifinals begin tonight, so remember to swing by every few hours for updates.
Please joing the...
Read more »Live from D.C. Game 7, Game Night. it's Go Time...
For either the Rangers or the Capitals, the short but bumpy road that began after the NHL lockout will end tonight. ...
Read more »Rangers face ouster in Game 6 at MSG after 2-1 OT loss in DC
Photo credit: Getty Images
Maybe the Rangers can draw on memories for inspiration.
They scored three times in Game Six in Ottawa---not at MSG---last spring to force a Game 7 at home, which they won to capture the East Quarterfinals. This time, Game 7, if necessary, would be back here.
The Rangers were 16-6-2 at home, plus the wins in Games 3 and 4, and the Caps are already wary.
"Obviously, it's...
Read more »NYR's Marc Staal out for Game 5 in D.C.
Defenseman Marc Staal, who is struggling with vision problems, is not dressing tonight for Game 5 of the series and could not say when he might rejoin the Rangers lineup.
Staal, who played 17 minutes in Game 3, then pulled himself out of the lineup before Game 4 after a morning skate, said that on the ice that day "it didn't go particularly well... as the day...
Read more »NYR hold on, 4-3 at MSG, to square series with Caps
Photo credit: Jim McIsaac
It's on to Washington again. and perhaps a two-of-three.
Either team can win in six, but you get the feeling that this baby may go down to the wire. Somebody would have to win a game on the road.
Home has ruled so far, with the Rangers quick-strike goals in the third being just enough to scrape by the Capitals, who had erased a 2-0 lead with two of their won in the second.
If Lundqvist...
Read more »Rick Nash: Good to go in Game 4
Photo credit: Jim McIsaac
Rick Nash, who has one assist in the first three games of this playoff series, said he had no ill effects after slamming into the boards on a missed check on Mike Green at the end of the second period in Game 3.
“No, I felt pretty good in the third,” said Nash, who was given a maintenance day for rest and treatment on Tuesday and skated Wednesday morning in an optional practice at MSG.
“I...
Read more »Ryan Clowe says 'good chance' he'll play in Game 4
Photo credit: Getty
Ryane Clowe, who skated in an optional practice this morning at MSG, said afterward that "there's a good chance I'll play" in Game 4 tonight against the Capitals.
With the Rangers trailing 2-1 in the series, Clowe, with his tenacity and playoff experience, would provide another piece to the puzzle if the Blueshirts are to extend the series to a sixth game back here on Sunday.
Clowe,...
Read more »Tortorella's remarks, Rick Nash rests, quotes from NYR practice
Photo credit: Getty Images
Game 4 peek-ahead stats first:
The PP? 1-for-13. The PK is 8-10. Blueshirts are 39-32 all time in G4.
More in my preview along with Henrik Lundqvist's thoughts on Game 4 in tomorrah's paper. My partner on the bumpy stagecoach ride this series, Anthony Rieber, has a piece on the growth of John Moore coming up as well.
Here's a taste of what Lundqvist said after practice, then...
Read more »Marc Staal in warmups, Ryane Clowe not
It appeares that Marc Staal, who has been recovering from blurred vision in his right eye which was struck by a deflected puck March 5, will play his first game after missing 29.
Before the game, Staal was activated from injured reserve and took warmups, skating with Anton Stralman on the third pair. Staal had said he would not be ready until he felt comfortable after a couple consecutive...
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