Fedotenko returns to lineup
Edmonton Oilers' Taylor Hall, left, falls, behind New York Rangers' Ruslan Fedotenko during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta. (Oct. 22, 2011) Credit: AP
TORONTO -- With Mats Zuccarello out indefinitely with a fractured left wrist, Ruslan Fedotenko returned to the Rangers' lineup after being benched for two games.
Fedotenko, who had eight goals and eight assists in 65 games, but only one of each in his last 16 games, started on a line with Brian Boyle and Carl Hagelin.
"You need to defend and you need to try to create some offense. We ask all of our players to do that," coach John Tortorella said before the game. "It's part of being a player staying in the lineup. I know Feds very well. He's a good player, has been a good player for us. This is the time of year, right now, that he needs to find . . . his defensive game and his offensive game, and I believe he will."
Fedotenko, 33, played for Tortorella during Tampa Bay's Stanley Cup championship season of 2003-04 and during the Penguins' Stanley Cup run in 2008-09, when he had seven goals and 14 points in 24 games.
Zuccarello, who was on ice for all five power-play goals in the seven-game homestand but fractured his wrist blocking a shot by Sabres defenseman Jordan Leopold on Friday, was not with the team. A team spokesman said he did not know when surgery is scheduled.
Blue notes
Backup goaltender Martin Biron last played on March 13 in a 4-2 win over Carolina. He could return next week when the Rangers play their final back-to-back of the season in Minnesota and Winnipeg. Defensemen Anton Stralman and Steve Eminger and forward John Scott were healthy scratches . . . Boston College forward Chris Kreider, the Rangers' No. 1 draft pick in 2006, scored twice against Air Force in a 2-0 win by the top-seeded Eagles in the first game of the NCAA Tournament Saturday. So he won't be signed Sunday.
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