Lundqvist dinged by Staal slap shot

1) HENRIK LUNDQVIST Make no mistake about it, if the... — **1) HENRIK LUNDQVIST**
Make no mistake about it, if the Rangers have no shot in this series with an A+ performance from Lundqvist. They almost got it from him in 2009, when the goaltender stole two games to help the Rangers take a 3-1 series lead. This time around, the defense around him should be better, and Lundqvist was outstanding down the stretch. If he continues to play at that level, the Rangers have a good chance to pull off the upset.

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By STEVE ZIPAYsteve.zipay@newsday.comMarch 24, 2011

Should players be warned to be more careful in practice when shooting high at goaltenders?

According to coach John Tortorella, there is no reason to remind them. "Our guys are careful. You show a tremendous amount of disrespect toward the players when you ask that type of question," Tortorella said before Thursday night's game.

Derek Stepan's shot on a two-on-one broke Martin Biron's collarbone on Feb. 28 -- an injury that Biron said was caused by his equipment shifting as he slid to one side.

Thursday, near the end of practice, Marc Staal's slap shot hit Henrik Lundqvist square in the mask, jolting his head and neck, which had been sore since forward Benoit Pouliot ran him in a game against Montreal on March 18.

Lundqvist lost his balance, fell backward and got up, but not before yelling in Staal's direction and leaving the net.

"I'm OK," Lundqvist said tersely in the locker room afterward.

Staal, who had not practiced in five days while resting what is believed to be a sore left knee, said, "It got away from me, that's my excuse. He's OK. That's what matters."

Gilroy scratched

With Staal back in the lineup after missing the previous two games, defenseman Matt Gilroy was a healthy scratch. Steve Eminger dressed for the fifth consecutive game. “Gilly hasn’t been bad. I just like the way Emmy’s played under the hashmarks, the physical play,” Tortorella said. Sean Avery, a healthy scratch for the fourth consecutive game, was the odd man out up front.

Rangers sign goalie

The Rangers signed 6-8, 200-pound goaltender Jason Missiaen, 20, who appeared in 53 games in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, recording a 10-33-8 record, a 3.33 GAA and an .893 save percentage. The Ontario native, who was Montreal’s fourth-round selection in the 2008 draft, ranked third in the league with 1,403 saves.