Rangers stress opportunities, not injuries

GREENBURGH, N.Y. - There is no moaning in hockey. The Rangers, 1-1-1 and now with three vital players unavailable for a considerable period, are "not going to talk about injuries," coach John Tortorella said.

Instead, he said, they are going to think of tonight's home game against the Colorado Avalanche (3-2-0) as an opportunity for those fellows who must take up the slack for lost forwards Marian Gaborik (separated shoulder), Chris Drury (broken finger) and Vinny Prospal (knee surgery).

To be missing players who accounted for 176 of last season's points hardly is a welcome situation. But Tortorella said: "We feel sometimes it can also help your team. You can be a dangerous team as far as pulling together quick in finding ways to score. We've had success scoring goals and Gabby hasn't been on the scoreboard yet. So we're going to just keep banging away at this."

Tortorella declared that Eric Christensen, still recovering from a sore groin, "is in" for tonight's game, centering a line with Derek Boogaard and Todd White. Christensen participated fully in yesterday's practice and said he is "coming along. I don't know how I looked out there; I still feel it, but I think it's manageable."

And, though Christensen spent the rest of the day literally staying cool - "Icing it consistently," he said - Tortorella said he will move ahead with the line and defensive combinations the team worked on Sunday. Artem Anisimov-Brandon Dubinsky-Ryan Callahan "probably has been our best line," Tortorella said, "and I like the [Derek] Stepan line ."

Sean Avery-Brian Boyle-Brandon Prust form the other line and Tortorella said he is "going to keep on evaluating. It's not an ideal situation, but it is what it is and we're going to make decisions each game. We'll see how it goes."

Beyond personnel concerns, Tortorella spent the day emphasizing defensive coverage and his insistence that it need not compromise the Rangers' attack. "Our approach," he said, "isn't raising holy hell and taking chances all over the place. It is a concept that you have to play defense; you're not going to win in this league unless you play defense, [but] we don't think playing defense should be at the cost of your offense, and offense shouldn't lose your defense.

"Maybe I misrepresent it. We want to pressure, we want to play tempo, but defense is a major part of our game, because when you play defense, you have the puck more."

Notes & quotes: Backup goalkeeper Martin Biron "is gonna play soon," Tortorella said, but not yet, as Henrik Lundqvist is beginning to hit his stride. "We're hoping we're in a spot where we're supposed to be at the end of the year and [Lundqvist] is fresher. Marty's responsibility is not only to play the games but to win, because that helps you in your playoff situation."