This morning, John Tortorella briefly spoke with the media and said this about his team's chances in Game 3 tonight (via Washington Post)...

“I think we’re close, I’ll put it to you that way. But it means squat if you don’t win.

“I think [the games have] been a hell of a lot more even than a lot of other people think,” Tortorella said. “But it really doesn’t matter. We need to win a game. It doesn’t matter what’s happened in the other two, we need to win a game and that’s all we’re thinking about.”

...close to what, winning or finally scoring again? Because, in case Torts forgot, his team has to find the back of the net in order to claim victory.

Lots going on at the Rangers optional practice. Some good, some not so much.

Katie Strang at ESPN.com reports that Ryane Clowe still isn't sure if he'll play tonight, however, Pat Leonard at the Daily News expects Clowe to take Arron Asham's spot in the line-up after the former Shark left practice early while Asham  remained on the ice with the other likely scratches.

...after yesterday's comments about Clowe chomping at the bit to get back and this being a virtual must win game for the Rangers expect Clowe in there.

One player who won't be re-inserted into the line-up is Chris Kreider, who according to Larry Brooks at the New York Post was skating with the taxi squad players this morning.

...*shakes head*.

...re-inserting Kreider into the line-up would be the epitome of a desperation move, but aren't the Rangers in a desperate situation? Going with Kreider last year seemed to ignite the offense, why not see if lightning strikes twice.

In a bit of scary news, Tom Gulitti at the Bergen Record, who has been covering for Andrew Gross (family reasons), notes that Henrik Lundqvist was either stung with a shot or tweaked something making save during practice yesterday. The Rangers netminder stayed face down on ice for a moment before getting up, slamming his stick on the crossbar and leaving the ice.

Gulitti adds that Lundqvist did not skate this morning, but is still expected to start.

Michael Salfino at the Wall Street Journal gives us the Rangers' putrid offensive numbers in the playoffs under John Tortorella...

"Since John Tortorella took over the team in 2009, they have either scored one goal or been shut out in 13 of their 34 postseason games.

"That rate of nearly 40% is the worst among all NHL teams with at least 10 postseason contests during that period."

...i knew the numbers were bad, but wow, didn't realize they were that horrific.

...it truly is baffling how Tortorella has completely abandoned his "safe is death" strategy that led to a Stanley Cup with the Lightning. I know he probably couldn't have utilized that system with the line-up he inherited in 2009, but now that the skill level has increased why has he been so resistant to implement at least a taste of it? Yes, I know that kind of run and gun offense can backfire in the playoffs, but look at the alternative.

So how futile has the Rangers offense been in the first two games? Even Capitals netminder Braden Holtby admitted he had an easy time of it in Game 2 (via Washington Post)...

“It wasn’t a very hard game for me,” Holtby said after the game. “We did an outstanding job. Penalty kills are usually where you get the most work and if you eliminate that it’s basically just making the saves that you have to make. A shutout’s one thing but a win is the big thing.”

And if that wasn't enough, he added...

“It wasn’t a very straining game on a goalie,” Holtby said. “It probably didn’t even reach double digits in scoring chances. I felt comfortable out there but there’s still room for improvement.”

...this is far from being bulletin board material and I find it highly doubtful Holtby was trying to needle the Blueshirts, but if the Rangers players aren't completely motivated by these embarrassing comments there's no chance for this team.

...hockey players are very proud and don't like to be disrespected, so I'm hoping Holtby's comments unintentionally lit a fire under this team.

...and if this doesn't work, maybe Sather should call Avery to see if he wants to criticize Torts again.

Here's how the Rangers plan on making life more difficult for Holtby (via Blueshirts United)...

In the history of the NHL, teams have trailed 2-0 in a best of seven series 291 times and have come back to win the series on 37 occasions or 12.7% of the time.

So when the Rangers comeback (and they will comeback) to win this series they're going to be #38 on that list. The 1996 Rangers are also on the list when they won four straight after dropping the first two to the Canadiens.

In what might be a good sign, the Capitals are responsible for blowing four (1992, 1996, 2003 & 2009) of those 37 occasions.

...yesterday was a pretty negative day on the blog, so thought I'd start things off with a little positivity this morning.

And if that isn't enough to get you in the right frame of mind, how about this...

Bergen Record - Rangers in must-win mode

Bergen Record - Rangers' three keys for Game 3

New York Post - Rangers must turn up heat on Holtby

New York Post - Rangers' Clowe hopeful for tonight

New York Post - Rangers’ plan not working

Daily News - Leonard: Torts reforms in store for Rangers

New York Times - Rangers Are Looking for Solution on Offense

Newsday - Rangers need to make things harder for Holtby

Newsday - Tortorella: It takes 4 games to win a series

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practice was very quick...Ryane Clowe did skate in a regular practice jersey...Carl Hagelin was given a maintenance day

— Jim Cerny (@JimCerny) May 5, 2013

Here's Clowe on his status for tomorrow's game (via Daily News)...

Rick Nash was brought in this past offseason to bring some much needed offense to the Rangers line-up. Unfortunately for Nash and Rangers fans, the rest of the team (other than Derek Stepan) have pretty much relied on him to do all the heavy lifting on offense.

Now with Nash struggling with the pressures of the playoffs, no one is stepping up in his absence.

And one look at the Rangers line-up yesterday tells you all you need to know about why that is...

Taylor Pyatt - 6g
Derek Dorsett - 3g (before he got hurt)
Brian Boyle - 2g
Arron Asham - 2g
Darrell Powe - 0g

Almost half of the Rangers line-up can't be relied on to score. In my opinion, none of those five guys are even remotely close to being an offensive threat when they're on the ice.

And that list doesn't even include Brad Richards, who is proving all his fluky late season goals where just that, a fluke and Mats Zuccarello, who I'm starting to question his ability to overcome his size in the playoffs when the physical intensity is stepped up a notch.

Even within the top six forwards, other than Nash, none of them really have the skill set to create their own shots or opportunities.

Just to put the Rangers goal scoring woes in context. The entire team has as many goals as Wade Redden (1g, 1a) through the first two games of the postseason. And just one more point (H/T to reader johnnyb3910).

So what do the Rangers need to do? I think with a line-up lacking any semblance of play-making ability this series, the Rangers need to start manufacturing some ugly goals. Get as many bodies to the net and start firing the puck at Holtby. Eventually the puck is going to take a funny hop or a rebound is going to land on the stick of a Ranger player parked on the crease.

During his post game press conference after yesterday's 1-0 overtime lose, John Tortorella was asked about his team's anemic power play...

"We're just too stagnant. We're just almost paralyzed."

...no offense Torts, but the power play has been "stagnant" and "paralyzed" since you've taken over. What we saw yesterday was no different from what we've suffered through during Torts' four full seasons with the Rangers. It's gotten so bad I'm not even focused on them scoring anymore, I'm just hoping to see some shots on goal at this point.

...different personnel have come and gone, so I refuse the blame the players. There's no movement, no traffic in front and no threat from the point. It's inexcusable for a power play with Rick Nash and Brad Richards to be this bad. Absolutely disgusting that after all the futility these years, Torts has refused to change things up. Putting in a new system in the middle of the playoffs isn't ideal, but what the Rangers are doing (or should I say not doing) obviously isn't working. Something has to change.

...when Torts is watching tape of his team's power play today, maybe he should fast forward to the part when the Capitals have the man advantage and see how it's supposed to be done. Right now tweaking the Rangers power play isn't enough. It needs radical reconstructive surgery.

The Rangers are currently being shutout on the power play (0-for-6) this series by a penalty kill unit that was 27th (77.9% success rate) in the NHL this season.

...coming into the series, we were all concerned about how the Rangers were going to stop the Capitals power play, but I guess the focus should have been on fixing their own.

...and btw, because the power play is so bad, there will not be a post today, at least not from me, about the non-delay of game call on the Caps at the end of regulation. Ask yourself this, do you really think the Rangers would have scored on the ensuing power play? Exactly.

In Torts' four full seasons with the Rangers they've gone 172-for-1024 (16.8%) on the power play or as I like to call it...terrible.

Here's video of Tortorella's entire post game press conference...

An average shift in the NHL is usually anywhere between 45-60 seconds. So when Ryan McDonagh was out there for a three minute and four second marathon shift in overtime, I guess we can all understand why his clearing attempt was off the mark leading to a delay of game penalty that eventually cost the Rangers the game.

But now the question is, why the heck was he out there so long? Katie Carrera at the Washington Post breaks it down...

"McDonagh’s never-ending shift started with 4:05 gone in overtime and the Capitals’ top line pressing for a goal. The Capitals’ second line of Martin Erat, Mike Ribeiro and Brouwer extended the time in the offensive zone, forcing New York to ice the puck. A fresh third unit of Perreault, Chimera and Fehr took over, churning through another shift in the Rangers’ end until Lundqvist froze the puck.

When Alex Ovechkin, Backstrom and Johansson emerged from the bench for the faceoff, McDonagh, whom Rangers Coach John Tortorella matches against the opponent’s top line, remained on the ice. Washington’s stars executed another dominant shift with three shots on goal until McDonagh shot the puck over the glass on a clearing attempt."

John Tortorella did take a timeout after the Rangers iced the puck.

...listen, I get that there was a timeout thrown in there and Torts wants either or both McD or Girardi on the ice against Ovechkin. But sometimes when you're on the road you can't get the match-up you want and you have to trust the other players on your team to get the job done. You don't leave a guy on the ice for a three plus minute shift. You'd think Torts would have learned from burning his key players out in last year's playoffs. I guess not.

So how did McDonagh take his late game gaffe? Not very well as John Giannone reported on the MSG post game that he's never seen a player so upset or emotionally involved after a game and that McDonagh had to go to the trainers room to gain his composure before speaking to the media.

#NYR Emotions high in Rangers room after loss. Ryan McDonagh clearly very upset. Fighting back tears during interviews.

— Katie Strang (@KatieStrangESPN) May 4, 2013

Here's said interview...