Injured Dubinsky feels disconnected

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Brandon Dubinsky, who missed the entire series against the Capitals, will start the Devils series on the sideline, too. The winger, still walking with a boot on his right foot, is improving, but he could not say he is close to skating.

In brief remarks Sunday, Dubinsky said his teammates won't have any trouble getting pumped up, "just seeing that '94 conference finals, how big a battle that was."

Dubinsky said he feels "a little disconnected . . . It's probably harder for me to watch the games than for me to play."

During Game 7, he said he was "probably the most nervous guy on the team. It's unfortunate not being able to play . . . It was exciting to watch us win and gives me hope and allows me to have something to keep working for, to try to get back as fast as I can."

Torts calls for red line

With the final four teams in the same defense-first mold, Rangers coach John Tortorella offered a suggestion: "I think they need to put the red line back in. You look at the puck- possession teams, they're out [of the playoffs] . . . because it's a game of ping-pong. The game is a long pass, forecheck, defend, another long pass, forecheck and defend. A lot of people will disagree. But it's not the proper forum to talk about that."

Captain AmericaThree of the four teams have U.S.-born captains: Ryan Callahan (Rangers), Zach Parise (Devils) and Dustin Brown (Kings). Shane Doan (Phoenix) is Canadian. "It shows U.S. players are making an impact," Callahan said. "But it's tough to just look at the captains. I think you saw that in the Olympics, we had a good showing, and there's a lot of young guys in the same age group that were on that team. It shows that USA Hockey is getting better in developing real good talent."

SEE PHOTOSTop 10 Rangers playoff moments