Bergen Record - Rangers fall to Sabres, 3-2, pursuers gain ground

Bergen Record - Rangers notes: Setback for Marc Staal

New York Post - Playoffs in peril after latest dud

New York Post - Staal's sore knee remains questionable

New York Post - Rangers starting to feel heat

Daily News - Sluggish start dooms Blueshirts

New York Times - Behind Miller, Recharged Sabres Draw Closer to Rangers

Newsday - Rangers lose to playoff berth foe Buffalo

...sorry I didn't get to my game recap last night, but I went the bar with a couple of friends to watch the game & was too drunk & too angry to do one when I got home. Collecting my thoughts now & will post a recap this morning.

Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

The New York Rangers (33-27-4, 70 pts., 7th in East) host the Buffalo Sabres (29-25-7, 65 pts., 9th in East) at MSG tonight starting at 7:00 p.m. For a preview go to Yahoo! Sports.

Rangers Game Notes

TV: Versus; Radio: 970AM The Apple, XM206

Probable Lines:
Dubinsky-Anisimov-Callahan
Prospal-Christensen-Boyle
Wolski-Stepan-Zuccarello
Avery-Newbury-Prust

McDonagh-Girardi
McCabe-Sauer
Gilroy-Eminger

Goaltenders:
Henrik Lundqvist - 25-21-4, 2.33 gaa, .922 sv%, 8 so.

Ryan Miller - 26-18-6, 2.66 gaa, .914 sv%, 3 so.

Opponent Notes:
- Brad Boyes, who the Sabres picked up at the trade deadline yesterday from St. Louis, has three goals and one assist in his last five visits to Madison Square Garden. Boyes has 12 goals and 41 points in 62 games this season.

- The Sabres totaled just 12 goals on a 2-3-1 homestand, which concluded with a 3-2 shootout loss to Detroit on Saturday. However they were 2-0-1 over the last three games.

- Buffalo is ninth in the East, two points back of eighth-place Carolina and five behind the Rangers for seventh.

- The Sabres are in search of a new captain after current Captain Craig Rivet was claimed by the Columbus Blue Jackets off re-entry waivers Saturday.

- Mike Grier has scored in two straight games, after notching just one in his previous 42 games.

- Jochen Hecht has points in three straight games (1g, 2a).

- Derek Roy suffered a quad tear Dec. 23 that required season-ending surgery.

2010-11 Season Series:
Oct. 9 Rangers 6, Sabres 3 at Buffalo
Nov. 11 Rangers 3, Sabres 2 (OT) at MSG
March 1 Rangers vs. Sabres at MSG
March 30 Rangers vs. Sabres at Buffalo

Opponent Blog:
Top Shelf Blog

Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . no comments

I will be talking yesterday's deadline and Rangers on WCWP internet radio which is the home for CW Post University on Long Island at 5:30 p.m. To listen click here and then on the microphone in the top right hand corner.

Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Donald Brashear, who is currently playing in the semipro Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey, recently sat down with Jeff Klein at Slap Shots to discuss numerous items including his time with the Rangers...

"At some point the role I had to fulfill wasn't — I didn't like it anymore. It was more like, "Just get on the ice and fight." When I met with the coach in the summer before, he was telling me I was going to have all sorts of ice time, but he never gave it to me.

Fighting is not a big part of the game in the N.H.L. right now. If there's fighting it's more the middleweight guys. I feel like I played at the right time, and they decided to change the rules, and it was toward the end of my career. I tried to make it last. It was good, and now it's over."

...is Brashear kidding me? Why does he think the Rangers brought him in? To score goals? You might have gotten more ice time if you played liked you actually cared.

...man this interview really pissed me off.

Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

This is what happens to your desk when you're a Blueshirts fan living in upstate New York and the Rangers play the Sabres...


...let's hope the Rangers help TheNYRBlog reader tspaker97 get a little pay back tomorrow.

Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

In the Dreger Report, Darren Dreger describes the Brad Richards negotiations between Glen Sather and Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk ...

"...Nieuwendyk asked the Rangers for multiple components. One scenario included 24-year-old forward Brandon Dubinsky - whose 19 goals is one shy of equalling a career high. Almost every member of New York's young core was believed to have been requested in some way, shape, or form - along with a collection of other assets required to land Richards."

Dreger adds Rangers interest in Richards has been shelved for now, but will resurface in July if - as expected - Richards enters the free agent market. The Maple Leafs will pursue Richards as well.

...if anyone still had any questions whether Sather was serious about a legitimate youth movement you have them no more. Could be Sather's best trade deadline as Rangers GM.

Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Update, 1:00 p.m.:
After this morning's optional, Fedotenko stayed on the ice to work with assistant Mike Sullivan and backup goalie Cam Talbot while Kris Newbury came off the ice with the rest of the group leading Gross to think the veteran winger will again be a scratch.

Original Post:
Andrew Gross tweets that Marc Staal (knee) did not attend this morning's optional skate and can't see how he plays tonight against Buffalo.

Ruslan Fedotenko (shoulder) did attend.

Also in attendence at the optional were Talbot, McCabe, Zuccarello, Sauer, Newbury, Fedotenko, Prust, McDonagh, Prospal & Anisimov.

...Staal did practice yesterday, however, he was unable to finish. Which is a little scary.

...luckily for the Rangers they have a crop of good young defensemen that are more than capable of picking up the slack. And with McCabe bringing in some veteran presence the Rangers now have the added luxury of giving Staal a few extra days.

Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Here's a pic of TheNYRBlog reader Peter J. celebrating the Rangers 6-0 demolition of the Capitals Friday night...


As always please continue to e-mail ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) your Rangers related pictures to me so I can post them.

Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

ESPN.com moves the Rangers up six spots to #14 in their latest power rankings...

14. Rangers - The Rangers took a big step forward by adding veteran blueliner Bryan McCabe. A big shot who has been around the block, he should help on a number of fronts for the Rangers, who dropped a home tilt Sunday after two big road wins in a row.

CBS Sports (18) also released their rankings.

Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . no comments

New York Post - Rangers' Biron injured as trades fizzle

New York Post - Without safety net, Rangers are The King's men

Daily News - Oh, puck! Rangers lose Biron for season

New York Times - At Deadline, Rangers Are Unable to Fill Sudden Need

Newsday - Staple: Richards stays; Rangers have changed

Newsday - Rangers lose Biron for season

Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .