Eminger gets nod over Gilroy

So much for the Rangers' third defense-pair rotation. Steve Eminger, who had one assist in his previous eight games and is a minus-2, has been declared the No. 5 defenseman by coach John Tortorella.

"Emmy has brought some more bite to our back end," Tortorella said before last night's game against the Blackhawks when Eminger was paired with rookie Michael Sauer, a scratch for four previous games. Matt Gilroy, who had dressed for eight straight and hadn't registered a point, didn't dress. Sauer has one assist in four games.

"I got a young kid [Sauer] we need to develop and I don't want to send him down, so he needs to play a little," Tortorella said. "We feel Emmy's No. 5. I don't want to put that in a negative way toward Gilly; I think he's tried to do the things we want him to do. He's given us good minutes. Coming out isn't due to that. But I think Michael and Gilly are our sixth guy. I just think Eminger's played a little bit better."

Eminger, 28, was acquired from Anaheim for Aaron Voros and Ryan Hillier on July 9.

Gaborik takes a spin

Marian Gaborik, the Rangers' top scorer last season who separated his left shoulder Oct. 15, skated without equipment for about a half hour.

"My stickhandling was pretty good, I tried to shoot a couple of times," said the right wing, who missed his eighth game last night. "It's not there yet, but I like where it's going. I don't want to say there's a timetable . . . I've just got to get it pain-free. I'm very anxious. I can't wait to play, but I can't get ahead of myself."

If the initial assessment that Gaborik could return in four weeks proves correct, he could play Nov. 14 against Edmonton.