Gaborik, Frolov and ... Stepan?

GREENBURGH - The great No. 1 line experiment begins Sunday.

Rangers right wing Marian Gaborik, who scored 42 goals and had a career-high 86 points last season, will be paired with former Kings left wing Alexander Frolov, who has 381 points in his seven-year NHL career, in the first scrimmage of training camp.

And in a bit of a surprise, the duo will be centered by rookie Derek Stepan, the former Wisconsin Badger who was, according to many observers, the best forward in last week's Traverse City prospects tournament.

At least, that's the plan.

Gaborik, who skated well in conditioning sprints Saturday after he sat out the first day of camp Friday with a sore back from lifting weights Tuesday, expects to be fine for today's simulated game.

"On Tuesday night and Wednesday, I couldn't do much," Gaborik said. "I barely could get out of bed. But I got some treatment and felt pretty good today. I never had a problem during the summer doing a lot of Olympic lifting like cleans and snatches."

On Tuesday, his back tightened. Yet Gaborik survived the mandated 30-minute series of cross-ice and rink-length sprints in good humor, as did Frolov.

"Well, it's over, I feel much better now," Frolov said after two days in Camp Tortorella. "I'm still alive and still breathing, still laughing."

The wingers often faced each other in the Western Conference, when Gaborik, a speedy, pure sniper, played for the Minnesota Wild.

"I know what kind of player he is," Frolov said. "We need to get used to each other, figure out what to expect, where to be on the ice. But it's not our first year in the NHL . . . Chemistry is a big part of it. It's not only between two forwards, but five guys on the ice."

Stepan, 20, posted 54 points (12-42) in 41 games last year and was tied for the NCAA lead in assists. "I've heard good things about him," Gaborik said. "It'll be good for him to show [his skills] off."

Frolov's talents are evident as well, although his numbers dipped last season. But his style of play hasn't changed. "He's got a couple 30-goal seasons, he's strong on the puck," Gaborik said. "I kind of clicked with Vinny [Prospal] last year, but whoever it is, it's going to be important to click . . . It's a long way away, and you know how Torts like to change lines."