Torts, Fedotenko not concerned by seven-game stat
John Tortorella of the New York Rangers speaks to the media after the Rangers defeated the Ottawa Senators. (April 26, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
No team has ever won the Stanley Cup after being pushed to the seven-game limit in the first two rounds.
Your thoughts, John Tortorella?
"It's a bunch of crap," the Rangers' coach said after Monday's morning skate.
Ruslan Fedotenko agreed.
"It's all statistics in the past. It doesn't matter," the 33-year-old forward said. "I scored two goals in Game 7 [to win the Cup with Tampa Bay in 2004]; did I score the last two goals [in Game 7 against the Capitals on Saturday]? What's in the past is in the past. There's always a record to break, a record to set and new things to do. Each round is different, each team is different."
In six Game 7s, Fedotenko's team has emerged the victor, and he used that stat to illustrate his point. "Does that mean for sure it will be 7-and- 0? No,'' he said. "It's good to be able to be on the winning side, but it doesn't matter."
Blue lines
The Rangers have won their last seven playoff series in which they held home-ice advantage, including a 4-3 series win against New Jersey in the 1994 conference finals . . . Since 2007-08, the Rangers were 11-4-1 at home during the regular season against New Jersey . . . Several Rangers have considerable experience playing the Devils during the season. Henrik Lundqvist was 25-11-5, with a 1.79 GAA and six shutouts in 41 games. Brad Richards, who also played for Tampa Bay and Dallas, was 5-28-33 in 38 games. Marian Gaborik, who also played for Minnesota, was 8-12-20 in 24 games. Dan Girardi was 1-13-14 in 35 games . . . Jeff Woywitka, John Scott and Steve Eminger were healthy scratches Monday night. Mats Zuccarello (fractured wrist) practiced but was scratched. Brandon Dubinsky, who had missed eight games with an injury to his right foot/ankle, is working out but not skating.
Rangers rate
Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Capitals and Rangers on Saturday averaged 4.8 percent of homes in the metropolitan area, the highest rating ever for an NHL game on NBC Sports Network in New York. The game averaged a 7.67 in Washington.
With Neil Best
