Rangers' Callahan cleared to skate

Ryan Callahan, whose left hand was broken by a shot from Pittsburgh's Kris Letang on Dec. 15, was cleared to begin light skating after an examination last night at Madison Square Garden. Callahan, who missed his eighth game, was 10-13-23 before he was injured. He likely will be sidelined another three weeks.

All-Star prospects

Under the new All-Star format, designated captains and alternates will pick their teams from a pool later this month. The Rangers candidates appear to be Henrik Lundqvist, Marc Staal and Brandon Dubinsky. But Derek Stepan looks like a sure bet to be selected as one of the 12 players on the All-Rookie squad. Before last night's game, the center ranked third among rookies in scoring with 11 goals and 23 points.

BC's Kreider might leave

Chris Kreider, the Boston College left wing who scored two goals in yesterday's 4-2 U.S. victory over Team Sweden in the bronze-medal game at the World Junior Championships in Buffalo, could leave after his sophomore season and sign a contract with the Rangers. If that happens, the thinking is that Kreider, the team's first-round draft pick in 2009 (19th overall), would start next season with the AHL Connecticut Whale. The Boxford, Mass., native will turn 20 in April. Another Rangers draftee, right wing Jesper Fasth, a sixth- rounder in 2010, had a good tournament and scored Wednesday for Sweden.

Blue notes

The Rangers will practice Thursday in Frisco, Texas, home of the North American Hockey League's Texas Tornados.