Marc Staal progressing game by game

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- The NHL will announce its All-Star Game selections Thursday, and many expect Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi to be one of the choices.

Sitting across the locker room, Marc Staal said Wednesday he would vote that way, too.

"He's been real good for a long time," Staal said. "It's nice that people are starting to recognize that."

The fact is such recognition probably would not be forthcoming if Staal, an All-Star last season, hadn't missed the first 36 games of this season with a concussion. In stepping up -- for Staal and others on the Rangers' fluctuating back line -- Girardi leads the league in minutes per game this season.

Staal, who returned to the lineup for the Winter Classic against the Flyers on Jan. 2, is progressing comfortably in his first four games. His minutes have bumped up each time out, to a high of 18:16 on Tuesday against Phoenix. He is playing more physically and gone are the doubts after he struggled in his first two games.

"I was pretty lost," Staal said. "It was kind of surprising I would feel that out of place. The plays that I would make automatically weren't coming automatically.

"I knew it would take a few games just to get it back. Now I'm starting to feel better."

SEE PHOTOSLong Island in the pros: NHL edition

The 6-4 defenseman has yet to record a point, but his presence isn't going unrecognized by teammates. It may be no coincidence the Rangers are 4-0 with only six goals allowed since Staal's return. He has a zero plus/minus rating with four blocked shots and seven recorded hits since his return.

"He's getting better each day," defenseman Michael Del Zotto said. "In practice you're starting to see it, too. He's an unbelievable defenseman."

After sitting out for three months, Staal said the struggle has been getting his legs back through conditioning. Any lingering concern about his body responding to hits has dissipated.

"I've gotten hit the last couple games pretty hard a few times," Staal said. "There's been no issues and no problems at all."

Notes & quotes: F Erik Christensen accepted a two-week conditioning assignment with the AHL Whale. Christensen has been a healthy scratch each of the last 10 games. "It's a chance for me to stay sharper," he said . . . John Tortorella said Brandon Dubinsky (shoulder) will be a game-time decision Thursday night.