Gaborik practices, might be ready against Boston
Photo credit: Getty Images | Marian Gaborik of the New York Rangers celebrates his second period goal during the NHL game against the Montreal Canadiens. (October 24, 2009)
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Oct. 30: Minnesota 3, Rangers 2
GREENBURGH, N.Y. - Chris Higgins noticed the mob. "Had to wait a long time on the line during drills," he said after practice yesterday.
The Rangers haven't had 23 players on the ice since camp, but Saturday, three forwards who missed Friday's game - Marian Gaborik (knee), Sean Avery (knee) and Higgins (foot) - plus two AHL recalls who scored in the last two games, Dane Byers and P.A. Parenteau, made it a crowded house.
Coach John Tortorella prefers a 20-player roster, so before today's matinee against the Bruins at Madison Square Garden, there might be a few forwards shed. It is possible, however, that a seventh defenseman will be added for the three-game trip through Western Canada next week.
Gaborik's return, which likely will come Sunday, will be most welcome. The Rangers scored just three goals in the two games that the team's leading scorer missed with a sore right knee, losses to the Islanders and Wild. The power play was 0-for-5.
The star right wing, who skated Friday in St. Paul, Minn. but did not play, was upbeat after practice that included contact. Although Gaborik said he "would not be 100 percent [Sunday] . . . I want to play, I want to make sure it feels good in warmups. I just want to feel comfortable . . . It's tough to watch, but you can't help out there. I'm anxious."
So is Tortorella, whose team is in a 1-4-1 slide after a 7-1 start. "The good news is at least they're on the ice, everybody will probably be in warmups," he said, "and we'll go from there."
Without a doubt, the Rangers need contributions from Gaborik and others. The Rangers had an ineffective nine scoring chances in the 3-2 loss to the Wild, and other than four goals from Gaborik, the rest of the Rangers have 13 goals in the last six games. The forwards have 10: None from Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, Higgins and Avery and just one from captain Chris Drury.
On the positive side, rookie center Artem Anisimov is settling in, more relaxed in the locker room and stronger and confident on the ice. He played 16:20 Friday - twice his usual allotment - and has two goals and an assist in four games.
"I thought Artie was our best player [against the Wild]," Tortorella said. "No matter who I played Artie with, he was on the puck, created a forecheck and created offense. It was a lot of ice for him but I thought he handled it very well."
Notes & quotes: In the last six games, Ales Kotalik (2-3-5), Vinny Prospal (1-4-5) and Enver Lisin (2-2-4) have been the most productive . . . Byers, who arrived 20 minutes before the game after flight delays, impressed Tortorella. Given the travel issues, "He created some offense, did some good things along the wall. He adds a little jam." . . . The Bruins (6-5-1) beat the Edmonton Oilers, 2-0, Saturday . . . Henrik Lundqvist has one win in the last five starts and has surrendered 16 goals . . . The Rangers are 5-2 at home.
