Rangers-Bruins coming up....

             Greetings from MSG: 

              First of three to close out the regular season at home...Am I thinking the difference is going to be one goal? You bet.

              Henrik Lundqvist making his 24th straight start. I'm guessing Vezina favorite Tim Thomas will be the Bs keeper.

              Thomas is 4-6-3 with a 2.58 GAA, .915 save percentage and one shutout against the Blueshirts in 13 games. Tuukka Rask, who was in the net for the 1-0 loss in Boston last weekend,  is 2-3-0 but a top-shelf1.62 goals against average and .946 save %. Lundqvist is 15-5-2 with a 1.43 GAA and a .950 save percentage when facing the Bruins.

               Lundqvist is playing "at the highest level" in Tortorella's tenure, the coach said. "I think he's decided to carry this team on his shoulders."

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              Grinder Kris Newbury was called up as a precaution, because guys have "dings", coach John Tortorella said about 5:30 p.m., but was not in the lineup at the moment.

             Same d-pairs. with Matt Gilroy on the pine.

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             Torts on Marian Gaborik: "We need to get some goals out of him, but he defended pretty well the last game...he's moving his legs..."

             On fatigue: "At this point in the season, I think you can will yourself to get through and will yourself to be tired." But he added that he's like to get more people involved early.

            On playoffs:  "We consider this playoffs...I know they look at they standings. I do...We're in a good spot here."  

             On Chris Drury, who is progressing from the knee surgery of two months ago and skated hard today for the first time since: "No idea....more concerned with the team than injured guys." 

              More to come, please follow here and at twitter.com/stevezipay during the game and beyond. And in the newspaper of course, with a game story tonight, a notebook with quotes and stats and also, some insights from Arthur Staple, who has joined us here in the press room again this evening. 

              Also, for all you night owls hootin' around, we'll have a post-game wrap and look ahead, on WFAN/660 AM  around 1 a.m.  I'll be a guest of Adam The Bull.