Top 10 list of things you need to know from D.C.
The Rangers' Michael Del Zotto skates against the Islanders. (Dec. 3, 2010) Credit: Jim McIsaac
In Washington, the top 10 list for tonight:
1. Martin Biron in for Rangers; rookie Bradon Holtby (4-2-1) in net for Caps. Torts: “I’m not playing Hank five in seven nights.”
2. Dan Girardi (ribs) out, Michael Del Zotto in.
3. Brandon Prust (foot) likely in, says “It’s just pain, can’t get any worse." The choice for 12th forward is between Evgeny Grachev and Brodie Dupont. My money’s on Grachev, who Torts said “has been coming on…Scored three goals the other night, we’ve asked Kenny [Gernander] to really try to put him through the process. Is it all solved? No… seems to just be playing better overall.”
4. Torts: If Girardi played tonight, “I’m not sure he’s gonna get through the game and we’d be shorthanded. It’s still not where it should be for him to attempt to play. I don’t want to be shorthanded 10 minutes into the game. And I don’t want to prolong it. And we’ll get a look at Michael.” He hasn’t played in NHL since Dec. 2
5. Tortorella says Del Zotto has been “good sometimes, bad sometimes, still inconsistent,” and frankly would rather see him continuing playing down there, “but right now he is the guy” and was recalled due to Girardi injury.
6. Derek Stepan has gash under eye from blistering check by Atlanta’s Nik Antropov on Saturday. “The one where I nearly died?”
7. Del Zotto: “I’ve been playing 30 minutes a game down there, in all situations, and pretty much feeling comfortable. Things are a lot different down there. Mentally is the biggest thing gearing up for a game when there’s maybe going to be only 3,000 people.”
8. Ryan Callahan and Vinny Prospal, in white non-contact jerseys, skated again in practice here at public rink, Kettler in Arlington, where Caps practiced earlier. Neither Glen Sather or other front office types had been here and few if any players.
9. The lines and d-pairs, which could change, were Del Zotto-Staal, Gilroy-Eminger, McDonagh-Sauer; Avery-Anisimov-Gaborik; Wolski-Stepan-Zuke; Prust- Boyle-Kolarik; Drury-Newbury-Grachev.
10. Torts dropped a lot of F-bombs, all friendly, in his pretty loose press session. No video, sorry.
