Yesterday at practice in Florida, Andrew Gross at the Bergen Record observed that Brian Boyle (right knee) appeared to still be limping and it looked like he was still wearing a brace under his suit pants.

John Tortorella said there were no updates on Boyle, who remains out indefinitely.

...if Boyle is still limping around I find it hard to believe that he'll be back before the end of the regular season. And that might not be a bad thing, as without Boyle in the line-up this season the Rangers are 6-1-0 while outscoring their opponents 33-14.

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Despite being idle last night, the Rangers actually moved ahead of Ottawa into seventh place as a result of the Senators 3-1 loss to the Penguins. Both teams have 52 points, but the Rangers own the tiebreaker due to having more regulation/overtime wins.

Ottawa has three games remaining: @Capitals, vs. Flyers and @Bruins.

In another games of interest, ninth place Winnipeg defeated the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 to pull them within one point of both the Rangers and Senators as well as one point from the Capitals who currently reside in the three seed as the Southeast Division leader.

Winnipeg has two games remaining: @Capitals, vs. Canadiens.

Washington has three games remaining: vs. Jets, vs. Senators, vs. Bruins

The Islanders have three games remaining: @Hurricanes, @Flyers, @Sabres

The Rangers have three games remaining: @Panthers, @ Hurricanes, vs. Devils

Here's what the standings look like...

Bergen Record - Gross: Rangers' looking to continue April success into playoffs in May

New York Post - No rest in plans for Rangers goalie Lundqvist

Newsday - Lundqvist thriving despite rough schedule

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Pat Leonard at the Daily News reports that Henrik Lundqvist will make his 12th straight start tomorrow in Florida against the last place Panthers.

...i don't care if the Panthers are the worst team in the Eastern Conference, the Rangers are hanging on to a playoff spot by the skin of their teeth and I, for one, couldn't be happier to see Lundqvist back in there tomorrow. For those of you complaining about Torts wearing out Lundqvist, how are you going to feel if Biron bombs and the Rangers miss the playoffs because of it. Now's not the time to make sure everyone plays. Would rather a tired Lundqvist in the playoffs than no playoffs at all.

Also at practice, Leonard adds that Ryan Callahan wasn't on the ice due to a maintenance day.

...had to figure he'd be sore today after he hit anything and everything in a black, red and white jersey yesterday.

Meanwhile, Leonard also notes that both Glen Sather, who recently had prostate cancer surgery, and Brian Boyle (lower body injury) are both on the trip to Florida.

...don't blame either of them for jumping on the charter to get away from the unseasonably cold spring weather in the New York.

Finally, similar to last season, Andrew Gross at the Bergen Record reports that with the CT Whale eliminated from AHL playoffs, the Rangers will bring up an unspecified number of players to practice. Those players will practice as their own group, not with Rangers.

...so Miller will go from centering the second line for the Rangers to not even being able to practice with them. Which is actually more a testament to the depth that Sather added at the trade deadline than Miller's declining performance on the ice.

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For the second straight year, EA Sports is holding a fan vote to determine the cover of NHL14.

And for the Rangers the two representatives are Ryan Callahan and........Carl Hagelin? Huh?

Listen, I love Hagelin, but how in the heck is he in the running over guys like Rick Nash, Henrik Lundqvist and Derek Stepan?

And actually, if you look at most of the teams' representatives, you have to wonder what everyone is thinking.

No Crosby. No Ovechkin. No Stamkos. No Getzlef. No Weber. What the hell is going on around here?

To vote and/or check out this atrocity on your own click here.

Here's a released gif of Nash from the game courtesy of The Score....

Via the Bergen Record...

"The Blueshirts have registered a point in 91 consecutive games when leading after the second period, dating back to the 2009-10 season, posting a record of 85-0-6 over the span. The Rangers’ last regulation loss in a game when entering the third with the lead was Feb. 4, 2010 (6-5 loss vs. WSH). New York is 15-0-0 when leading after the second period this season."

...i know the Rangers are a team that prides itself on defense, but that stat almost seems impossible.You figure they must have blown one third period lead in the last two years. To me, there is one reason and one reason only why the Rangers have been able to continue this streak and it starts with Henrik and ends with Lundqvist. It's usually a daunting task to score one goal during a period against the King. Now think about scoring multiple tallies. That thought is likely in the opponents' head before the third period starts meaning Lundqvist and the Rangers have already won.

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The start of Taylor Pyatt's Rangers career couldn't have gone better. Three goals and two assists in his first eight games and a spot on the first line alongside Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik.

But that was as good as it got for Pyatt as he tallied just one point (a goal) in the next 34 games and found himself buried on the fourth line barely playing five minutes a game.

That was until John Tortorella bumped him up to the third line with Brad Richards and Mats Zuccarello after the Brian Boyle injury. Since then, Pyatt has a three game point streak (1g, 2a), which included a huge goal yesterday that helped seal the Rangers victory against the Devils...

Here's Tortorella on Pyatt...

Bergen Record - Rangers win, 4-1, to eliminate Devils from playoff contention

New York Post - Rangers close in on berth, oust Devs

Daily News - Rangers banish Devils from playoff contention with 4-1 rout

New York Times - Callahan Helps Rangers Oust Devils From Playoff Picture

Newsday - Rangers eliminate Devils from playoff hunt

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The Rangers eliminated the NJ Devils from playoff contention with a 4-1 victory at the Garden today. For a box score click here.

Wins don't feel much better than that. Especially against a bitter rival who eliminated you from the playoffs just a season ago and found themselves on life support. Sweet, sweet revenge...

Na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye.....

The New York Rangers (23-17-4) host the New Jersey Devils (17-17-10) in a Sunday 3 PM matinee at Madison Square Garden. For a preview, go to Yahoo! Sports.

Rangers Game Notes

TV: NBC; Radio: ESPN Radio (98.7), XM 92

Live Stream (Don't click on ads in stream, may download virus):
http://www.firstrow1.eu/watch/182400/1/watch-new-jersey-devils-vs-new-york-rangers.html

Probable Lines:
Hagelin-Stepan-Callahan
Clowe-Brassard-Nash
Pyatt-Richards-Zuccarello
Kreider-Powe-Asham

McDonagh-Girardi
Del Zotto-Stralman
Moore-Eminger

Goaltenders:
Henrik Lundqvist - 21-15-3, 2.11 GAA, .926 SV%, 1 SO

Martin Brodeur - 12-8-7, 2.16 GAA, .903 SV%, 2 SO

Opponent Notes:
- The Devils can be eliminated from playoff contention today with any loss.

- The Devils have also lost 8 of their last 10.

- Martin Brodeur has backstopped the Devils to just 4 victories since returning from a back injury on March 21.

- David Clarkson has 3 points in 2 games vs. NYR this season.

- Ilya Kovalchuk has 41 points in 46 career games against the Rangers.

- Patrick Elias leads all Devils scorers with 13 goals and 20 assists this season.

- The Devils lead the NHL with 11 shorthanded goals.

2013 Season Series:
February 5 Rangers 1, Devils 3 at Newark
March 19 Rangers 3, Devils 2 at Newark
April 21 Rangers vs. Devils at MSG
April 27 Rangers vs. Devils at MSG

Opponent Blog:
Running With the Devils

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