Rangers add new faces to the lineup
Photo credit: AP | Former Anaheim forward Erik Christensen is hoping to revive his once-promising career with the Rangers. (November 14, 2009)
Three new faces will be in the lineup tomorrow in Buffalo when the slumping Rangers resume play after a four-day break: defenseman Ilkka Heikkinen, center Erik Christensen and goaltender Chad Johnson. And rookie Artem Anisimov, perhaps the team's best player in the last two weeks, will have an opportunity to center the No. 1 line.
Anisimov, who led the Wolf Pack in scoring last season and is 1-3-4 in the last five games, has been "one guy who has improved as he's gotten more ice time," coach John Tortorella said. "It allows us to move Vinny Prospal to the left side . . . Maybe this line connects."
Heikkinen, 25, who played six years in Finland, was signed as a free agent in May and displayed some offensive skills in training camp before he was cut. He will replace Wade Redden, whose damaged shoulder has forced him to miss three games and continued to bother him in practice yesterday.
To provide cap space for Heikkinen, the Rangers (13-13-1) moved center Brandon Dubinsky and his $1.85-million cap hit to long-term injured reserve, retroactive to Nov. 7. That's when he broke his hand blocking a shot in Calgary.
But Tortorella said the hand is healing and that Dubinsky's return to skating is "around the corner." Whenever Dubinsky returns, the Rangers will shed a couple of players to fit him in.
Bobby Sanguinetti, a righthanded shot, had subbed for Redden, but Heikkinen, a lefthander who has five goals and 11 assists in 24 games in Hartford, offers more balance in the pairings.
In his first practice since being claimed off waivers from the Ducks, Christensen centered left wing Chris Higgins and right wing Ales Kotalik.
"I wasn't playing a lot in Anaheim and not given much of an opportunity,'' said Christensen, 25, who had 18 goals and 33 points as a Penguins rookie in 2006-07. "Hopefully, I can turn the corner here. This is my fourth team in three years. If I fail here, it's not like another team is gonna come knocking on the door."
Kotalik, who has seen his ice time vanish and was taken off the power play, will be back on the point Saturday. "No question we've been upset with his play, especially five-on-five. It's time for him to jam it to me," Tortorella said. "I know he's not happy with me, but don't tell me and don't give me faces; show me. Show us. Koats is gonna get a great opportunity to show us he wants to stick."
Johnson, 23, who starred at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks and posted a 2.10 GAA in 18 games in Hartford, was summoned when backup Steve Valiquette cleared waivers.
