Over at the Daily News, Christian Red reports that in a bit of a shocking development, Sean Avery, the man who just a month ago tweeted that John Tortorella was a clown and that his players hated him, had only nice things to say about his former coach...

"(Tortorella) actually probably was one of the best things that ever happened to me. A month after I was done playing, I made the transition to what is a dream job for most people. Part of it was the relationship that I had with him as a coach. It definitely helped me make the transition and have a successful career."

...actually, the more I read that quote I have to wonder if Avery was being a bit 'tongue in cheek.' As in, because Torts hated me and basically ended my NHL career, I was able to begin my foray into the fashion industry earlier than I anticipated.

One person, however, who is not a fan of Tortorella, is Capitals head coach Adam Oates who responded on a local Washington radio show to the Rangers head coach's assertion that Washington whined about penalties during their first round match-up (CBS DC)...

“Well, I think he’s out of line,” Oates said. “He should be worried about his own series. We didn’t whine once during the series. I never complained. I don’t know, did you guys ever hear me complain about officiating?”

Umm, Adam, I know you have a lot on your mind getting ready for the golf course and all, but I just wanted to remind you of this quote you gave after Game 6 on the supposed Derek Dorsett slew foot (via CSN Washington)....

According to Pro Hockey Talk, the Rangers will be headed out to Las Vegas to face the Los Angeles Kings in their annual Frozen Fury preseason event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 27th.

The Kings will also play the Avalanche the following day.

For information on purchasing tickets, click here.

...glad to see this game will be indoors, because I think we all remember what happened the last time the Rangers played the Kings in a preseason game in Vegas...

If someone tells me that there's a 6.5% chance that it's going to rain today, guess what? I ain't bringing an umbrella to work. Which is why I don't even get remotely excited when the Rangers go on the power play because right now, 6.5% is their success rate with the man advantage in the playoffs.

After going 0-for-3 against a Bruins penalty kill that allowed five power play goals in their first round series against the Maple Leafs, the Rangers now have just two goals in 31 postseason opportunities with the extra man. Let me give you a second to allow that hideousness to sink in. And one of those two goals was scored by Dan Girardi. No offense to Dan, but he's not exactly considered on the same same level with say....PK Subban on the power play.

That's right, not a single power play goal, hell power play point, for Rick Nash, Brad Richards, Ryan Callahan, Derek Stepan, Michael Del Zotto, John Moore or Anton Stralman. Disgusting.

Here's Girardi on what's gone wrong (via Newsday)...

"I don't want to say [it's] frustrating, but it needs to be better. We need to get good chances and create momentum. We've got to get a goal on the power play. It's a difference-maker and we don't get one and we lose the game. We definitely have to figure out something with that."

Henrik Lundqvist added...

It's only Game 1 and we already have Henrik Lundqvist calling out his teammates for their putrid offensive effort, especially in overtime, during last night's 3-2 loss to the Bruins.

After being asked if his terrible playoff overtime record (3-11) was getting in his head, Lundqvist answered with this...

"Have I played bad in overtime? No. Can I score? No. Is it frustrating? Yes."

...i don't blame Lundqvist in the slightest for being furious. With three inexperienced defensemen in the Bruins line-up, the strategy was to come out and establish a strong forecheck. And with the exception of a few shifts from the Pyatt-Boyle-Dorsett line, it was non-existent. Nothing from Cally, Stepan or Hagelin, who are counted on to be a forechecking force.

...pretty much one opportunity and done for the Rangers in the Bruins end. Very rarely was there sustained offense on the power play or even strength. Not sure I can recall once when the Rangers had multiple shots on goal during a possession. In overtime, I was pretty much just waiting for the Bruins to end it. Had zero confidence the Rangers would find a way to steal Game 1.

...and would it kill this team to put a guy in front?

...eight games and counting for Nash.

...btw, the Rangers potpourri fourth line got completely owned by the Bruins'. Torts needs to change that trio up immediately. The Boyle line would be much more effective against Thornton's line. Need to get Kreider and Richards back in the top nine. I know Richards is God awful right now, but he's not a fourth line player. He's been through the grind of the playoffs and knows what it takes to win.

...the most frustrating part is I felt they held up very well physically. Which is why I'm still very confident. Similar to the first two losses in the Caps series, I feel this one had more to do with what the Rangers didn't do than what the Bruins did.

Speaking of Lundqvist, not exactly vintage Hank last night...

Bergen Record - Rangers fall in Game 1 to Bruins, 3-2, in OT

Bergen Record - Rangers notes: Claude Julien talks about John Tortorella

New York Post - Rangers get ‘spanked’ in Game 1 OT loss

New York Post - Lundqvist’s playoff OT struggles continue

New York Post - Tortorella keeps focus away from Rangers

New York Post - Tortorella shakes up pairings

Daily News - Bruins 'March' to Game 1 OT win over Rangers

Daily News - Leonard: Lundqvist puts up ‘help wanted’ sign

New York Times - On Overtime Rush, Bruins Slip Past Rangers

New York Times - Marchand Feels Pain in the Morning and Inflicts It at Night

Wall Street Journal - A Familiar Finish in OT: Rangers Lose

Newsday - Marchand's OT goal sinks Rangers in Game 1

Newsday - Lundqvist wasn't bad, just mad at himself

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The Rangers fall to the Bruins 3-2 in OT and trail the best of 7 series 1-0. For a box score, click here.

Terrible way to lose a game. The Rangers did not play well in OT following a early NYR penalty by Dorsett and a turnover in the offensive zone leads to an odd man rush for the game winner. What felt like a winnable game goes by the way-side. Cup bound teams have to hold on to one goal third period leads in the playoffs. At home, on the road, or on Mars. Unacceptable.

The New York Rangers visit the Boston Bruins at TD Garden for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals match-up starting at 7:30 p.m. For a preview go to Yahoo! Sports.

Rangers Game Notes

TV: NBCSN; Radio: Bloomberg Radio (AM 1130), XM 92

Live Stream (Don't click on ads in stream, may download virus):
http://www.firstrow1.eu/watch/186833/1/watch-boston-bruins-vs-new-york-rangers.html

Probable Lines:
Hagelin-Stepan-Callahan
Nash-Brassard-Zuccarello
Pyatt-Boyle-Dorsett
Asham-Richards-Kreider

McDonagh-Girardi
Del Zotto-Stralman
Eminger-Moore

Goaltenders:
Henrik Lundqvist - 4-3, 1.65 gaa, .947 sv%, 2 so.

Tuukka Rask - 4-3, 2.49 gaa, .923 sv%, 0 so

Opponent Notes:
- David Krejci led the Bruins with 5g, 8a in their seven game victory over the Maple Leafs in round one of the playoffs.

To watch at NHL.com, click here.

To watch at ESPN.com, click here.

Staal Clowe Powe not on ice for Rangers optional.

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossRecord) May 16, 2013

...assuming no one is surprised by this. I don't even want to speculate when either of these guys will be available. Maybe, Game 3 the earliest. I'd say Clowe is probably closer than Staal.

Luckily for the Rangers, the Bruins are just a beat up and will likely be relying on inexperienced defensemen tonight....

Julien also says "doesn't look good" for Ference, Seidenberg and Redden.

— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) May 16, 2013

Filling in for those three will be Matt Bartkowski (20 career regular season games), Torrey Krug (3 career regular season games) and Dougie Hamilton (42 career regular season games).  Both Bartkowski and Hamilton played in the epic Game 7 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (Bartkowski scored) while Krug was recalled from the Providence Bruins of the AHL.

Wade Redden isn't the only ex-Rangers player in this series for the Bruins, as the man many give credit for turning around the Blueshirts franchise after the 2005-06 lockout, Jaromir Jagr, will also be looking to eliminate his former team. But before the puck drops he only has glowing remarks for his one-time place of employment (via CSNNE)...

“I have a lot of good memories in New York. All of the years, we made the playoffs. In the first year nobody believed we could make the playoffs, and we did it. My first year was Hank’s first year and Tom Renney’s first year as a coach,” said Jagr. “We had such a good group of players and we surprised everybody. Such good memories in that hockey time for me.

“But now it’s a different story. I’m not good now. I was a lot better hockey player then, when I was in New York. Of course I’m different. I am honest. I cannot lie.”

...Jagr is obviously a shell of his former self, but his big ass body still presents a difficult match-up for the Rangers and if he can somehow rekindle some of that old Jagr magic the Blueshirts could be in trouble.

...while I hated Jagr during all those years in Pittsburgh, he will always have a special place in my heart for being one of the biggest reasons the Rangers were able to climb out of the Black Hole that was the early 2000s.

His run in the 2008 playoffs was my greatest memory of him in a Rangers uniform...

Jagr said this about trying to beat his former teammate Henrik Lundqvist in this series...