Rangers' Gaborik out, might play against Penguins

Marian Gaborik, scratched last night because of swelling around a deep cut on his thigh, could return for tomorrow's game against the Penguins in Pittsburgh.

"He's day-to-day," coach John Tortorella said. Tortorella spoke with trainer Jim Ramsay after Henrik Lundqvist's skate caught Gaborik above the knee in a collision during a breakaway drill in practice, and discussed the injury with Ramsay again Wednesday morning.

"There just wasn't a good chance [he'd play]," Tortorella said. "It's a pretty nasty gash. We're fortunate it wasn't more serious than it was. I think after a couple of days it'll calm down - the swelling - the blood fills, and so hopefully he'll be ready to play in Pittsburgh."

Gaborik was not at the Garden at the start of last night's game.

With two games remaining before Gaborik, who has 35 goals and 34 assists, leaves to play for Slovakia at the Winter Olympics, Tortorella said there was "no chance" that he would be rested until then. "If he can play, he'll play. He's our best player."

Potter dresses

Corey Potter, who was summoned from Hartford because several defensemen had "nicks," according to Tortorella, dressed as an extra defenseman. It was the first time all season that Tortorella employed seven defensemen. Potter, who played five games with the team last season, was 2-10-12 in 43 games with the Wolf Pack. Donald Brashear and Aaron Voros were scratched.

Weather or not

Only two regular-season games at the Garden have been rescheduled because of weather since 1994. On Feb. 11, 1994, a game against Quebec was moved to March 2. On Jan. 8, 1996, a game against Washington was shifted to Feb. 27.