Upon hearing Ryane Clowe would not return to last night's Game 5 after being face planted into the boards by Jason Chimera, I think all of us assumed it was another concussion.

But a closer look at the aftermath shows it might actually be a hand or wrist injury.

Here's video of the hit (via Pro Hockey Talk)...

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While the initial thought process from the guys at NBC Sports was concussion, what they didn't notice was that immediately after the hit, Clowe was checking out his hand...

And if you watch his next shift, he seems completely fine and alert. Not dazed or lethargic...

And finally, while I usually feel that watching the game on MSG is far superior to NBC Sports, last night Pierre and the boys had the better of it as apparently they continuously showed Clowe on the bench shaking his hand before leaving for the locker room...

The New York Rangers lost to the Washington Capitals by the score of 2-1 in overtime, tonight. Washington now leads the series 3-2. For a box score, go to Yahoo! Sports.

...what? Did you actually think the Rangers were going to allow us to enjoy a stress free Mother's Day weekend? I think you know this team better than that.

...absolutely putrid effort on offense. No pressure, no puck control, nothing. Their effort in the second and third period set offense back a century.

...and the reason for their lack of puck possession? Just a brutal night in the faceoff circle. Especially for Boyle and Brassard who combined to go 11-for-33. Can't score if you don't have the puck.

...hope each player individually apologized to Lundqvist after that one.

...Nash = ARod.

...Brassard has gotten a ton of love on this blog, but it was his failure to clear the puck that led to Ribiero's winner.

...on a positive note, Ovechkin is going to have nightmares about the two-headed monster that is McDonagh and Girardi who were phenomenal tonight. Ovechkin wanted nothing to do with going anywhere near the front of the net.

...Boyle's terribly undisciplined penalty wiped away all the positive vibes from his goal.

...hope Kreider's ready, because I doubt we see Clowe on Sunday.

...i liked Dorsett's game tonight. Very active and deserved more than the seven minutes of ice time he was given. Especially with Clowe knocked out of the contest.

...not even going waste key strokes discussing the power play.

The New York Rangers visit the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center for Game 5 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals match-up starting at 7:30 p.m. The series is tied 2-2. For a preview go to Yahoo! Sports.

Rangers Game Notes

TV: MSG; Radio: ESPN Radio (98.7 FM), XM 212

Live Stream (Don't click on ads in stream, may download virus):
http://www.firstrow1.eu/watch/185847/1/watch-washington-capitals-vs-new-york-rangers.html

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

McDonagh-Girardi
Del Zotto-Stralman
Eminger-Moore

Goaltenders:
Henrik Lundqvist - 2-2, 2.44 gaa, .929 sv%, 0 so.

Braden Holtby - 2-2, 2.20 gaa, .927 sv%, 1 so

Opponent Notes:
- Mathieu Perreault (1g, 3a) and Mike Green (2g, 2a) lead the Capitals in points with four.

A lot of you have been asking about the start time of Game 6 on Sunday, well the NHL has announced two possible times...

The National Hockey League announced today two scheduling scenarios for the potential Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Quarterfinal round schedule on Sunday, May 12.

The scenarios are dependent on the outcome of tonight's Game 5 in the series between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs.

SUNDAY'S START TIMES IF TORONTO WINS GAME 5 TONIGHT

4:30 p.m. ET Washington Capitals at New York Rangers Game 6

7 p.m. ET New York Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins Game 7*

7:30 p.m. ET Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs Game 6

10 p.m. ET Detroit Red Wings at Anaheim Ducks Game 7*

SUNDAY'S START TIMES IF BOSTON WINS GAME 5 TONIGHT

7 p.m. ET New York Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins Game 7*

7:30 p.m. ET Washington Capitals at New York Rangers Game 6

10 p.m. ET Detroit Red Wings at Anaheim Ducks Game 7*

* = if necessary

...Happy Mother's Day!

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Update, 2:36 p.m.:
Here's video of Staal's post practice interview...

To watch at Blueshirts United, click here.

Original Post:
While it's great to hear that Marc Staal was back on the ice this morning, that's pretty much where the good news ends as far as his return from an eye injury.

After announcing that he will not play in Game 5 tonight he added this about what went into his decision to pull himself from Game 4 (via NHL.com)...

"On the ice it didn't go particularly well, and as the day went on I just couldn't see myself getting into a game situation. It's tough. You get excited to get in that one [Game 3] and have to sit and watch the next [Game 4]. It's certainly not easy."

He added this about his status for the remainder of the series...

Through four games, the two biggest superstars in the Rangers/Capitals first round series have combined for ONE goal. To show how insane that is, Rick Nash and Alex Ovechkin have combined for 681 career goals!

So what are the two teams doing defensively to shut these guys down?

Pat Leonard at the Daily News notes that Capitals coach Adam Oates has called for double-teams and defensive collapses from his forwards on Nash, who is already being checked by Washington defenseman John Carlson or whoever else is on the assignment depending on which wing Nash has occupied.

Here's Nash on the Capitals strategy...

"It seems like they're closing down on me. I usually get a lot of space coming off the wall, but they're really using that winger to come down and block it. So I've just got to move (the puck) more and work for my space."

Meanwhile, Dan Rosen at NHL.com says besides constant pressure from Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh, the Rangers forecheck has led to Ovechkin's lack of scoring...

I received some insider info from my brother (@WrabelWrage) regarding NHL 13 and their current roster update which came out yesterday for Xbox 360. After the download is finished, you're left with 2 defenseman that aren't your first options for different reasons. 

NHL 13 doesn't give the Rangers John Moore and actually takes away Anton Stralman (some might be OK with this move), leaving you with Roman Hamrlik and Michael Sauer as essentially your bottom defense pairing. One is a non-existent traffic cone and the other hasn't played a game since December 5, 2011 because of a concussion.

Nice job, NHL 13.

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Not sure about you guys but this t-shirt I spotted at the Sunrise Mall in Massapequa yesterday pretty much sums up my life when the Rangers are in the playoffs...

...my wife is pretty much ready to divorce me at this time of year. lol

Speaking of t-shirts, my boys over at We Bleed Blue pretty much nailed it with this one...

Yesterday, Brian Boyle was a guest on the Michael Kay Radio Show (ESPN Radio) and discussed the Rangers current series against the Capitals, John Tortorella and an apparent elbow injury last year...

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To listen at ESPN Radio website, click here.

...i really do love listening to these guys on the radio. So much more candid than post game. Not full of clichés.

Bergen Record - Rangers hoping for Rick Nash to start scoring goals

Bergen Record - Rangers' defense taking care of Ovechkin

Bergen Record - Rangers' three keys to Game 5

New York Post - Time’s now for Rangers’ big gun to start scoring

New York Post - Power play, penalty kill key for Blueshirts

New York Post - Staal’s status for Game 5 remains in doubt

Daily News - Ranger Rick lacking zip in playoffs

New York Times - Rangers’ Game Plan? Swarm Ovechkin

Newsday - Nash has been quiet so far in playoffs

Newsday - Capitals hoping for some home cooking

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