Callahan hopes for long run; more on Gilroy, Drury

Injured Ryan Callahan won't disappear from the scene. Not his style.

Two days after breaking his ankle blocking Zdeno Chara’s shot late in the third period of the Rangers’ 5-3 comeback against the Bruins, Callahan said he would be around the team to offer encouragement and motivation.

No surgery (the best-case scenaro", he said) is required on his fractured right ankle, which is inside a boot. "I didn't know the extent of it, but it hurt right away," Callahan said, putting down his crutches as he took a seat at his locker at the training center. “It’s really hard. We’ve been battling through injuries all year and the guys will have to continue working and playing hard. To sit out at this time is tough for me.”

The ever-optimistic Callahan said he’ll have his leg X-rayed each week “and see how it progresses. Hopefully, we can keep winning and I get a chance to get back in and help the guys in the playoffs.”

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Gilroy on what he has to do:

"Stay on the right side," the Long Island native said, only half-kidding. "I'm hoping it will be a smooth transition. The guys were giving it to me a little bit out there, especially the d-men...I'm excited to play," said Gilroy, who has been a healthy scratch for six straight, and insisted that the switch would not be that difficult. The hard part has been sitting.  

"The key thing is communicating," said Erik Christensen. "If Sean and I see something, like where he needs to be, we'll tell him. He can skate and thinks the game well."

Said Avery: "He's a good skater and he's right-handed. We'll have to get in on the forecheck, get some shots and get to the net."

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Chris Drury (knee) skated for the fourth day, this time in a non-contact "97" jersey. "Gilly made me wear it." he said. "The other choices were like 12 and 47 and 61." He left practice briefly because a strap broke and returned when it was over to skate with the coaches. The playoffs won't start for another seven days; I believe that without a setback, he could return somewhere in the first round.