Larry Brooks at the New York Post speculates that the Rangers are likely to pursue Capitals UFA Matt Hendricks this summer.

Brooks adds that the 32-year old Hendricks is a "jagged-edged center" who kills penalties and fits the "Black-and-Blueshirt" mold.

Hendricks, who was being paid $825,000 per, had 5g, 3a and was a -6 last season. He was also a 57% faceoff man during the regular season, however, that dipped to 40% in the Capitals series against the Rangers in which he also went scoreless.

...an older depth player, who doesn't score, is good on the penalty kill and can win faceoffs? Sounds like exactly what we heard about Jeff Halpern. How'd that work out?

...also just looking at the Rangers free agency situation, there really isn't any room for Hendricks on the roster, unless Sather makes a trade this offseason. Fourth liners such as Powe, Asham, Newbury, Boyle and Pyatt are all under contract next season. The only free agents the Rangers have are Clowe, Stepan, Hagelin and Zuccarello. And while I expect all three of the younger Rangers back, if the Rangers decide to pass on Clowe, I don't see Hendricks as a suitable replacement.

Bergen Record - Tortorella calls on Rangers' top line to answer against Bruins

Bergen Record - Former Rangers Jaromir Jagr and Wade Redden took different paths to the Bruins

Bergen Record - Three keys for the Rangers in Game 2 vs. Bruins

New York Post - Blueshirts look to put offensive pressure on Bruins in Game 2

New York Post - Relaxed Redden has ‘turned the page’

New York Post - Bruins’ Jagr finding new ways to learn

Daily News - Seeds of Tort's no-nonsense style born as 2-sport star in Mass.

Daily News - Torts on Hags: 'He stinks on the power play'

New York Times - Coach Says Hagelin ‘Stinks’ on Power Play

Newsday - Rangers look to even series with Bruins

Newsday - Rangers benefitting from deal with Columbus

Newsday - Jagr reflects on Hall of Fame career

Newsday - Tortorella: Let's go to the videotape

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Same lines same d-pairs for Rangers. No Marc Staal on ice. Matt Gilroy is the seventh d-man on ice.

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossRecord) May 18, 2013

...and Staal not practicing with the team is exactly why I didn't get excited about him skating yesterday. I've all but stopped expecting him back in the playoffs.

...no news on Clowe isn't very encouraging either. Haven't even heard that he's in Boston with the team working out. Not good.

Arthur Staple at Newsday notes that John Moore lost six teeth (two upper, four lower) in Game 1 after taking a puck to the face.

...who says hockey players aren't the toughest of all the professional athletes?

Meanwhile, in his post practice press conference John Tortorella, after stating that the power play stinks and that Carl Hagelin might be inserted on one of the units, hinted that the team needs to make adjustments on and off the ice (via Bergen Record)...

Joe Haggerty at CSN NE reports that Bruin David Krejci was surprised with the goals scored against Henrik Lundqvist in Game 1...

“But I was kind of surprised with Zee’s shot, and even Krug’s shot, that they got through without much traffic. I hit a post and Johnny [Boychuk] hit a couple as well, so we could have had even more.

“That’s a good thing that we know. We had over 40 shots, and we had some really good chances. We just need to put them between the three posts when we play them the next time [on Sunday].”

...listen, this is far from being bulletin board material. But I'm surprised to see Krejci even bring up the Ranger netminder's "off" night. With how competitive Hank is, if these comments get back to him I can only see them motivating him more than ever to beat the Bruins.

Remember Darroll Powe? You know, the guy who doesn't score and does a decent job on the penalty kill? Yeah, the guy with the concussion? No, not Clowe, I said Powe. The guy the Rangers got from the Wild for Mike Rupp. Anyway, according to Andrew Gross at the Bergen Record, he worked out off ice during the team’s optional skate yesterday.

...i'd have to assume when Powe is healthy he'd get back in the line-up over Kreider. Although, if Clowe is also ready, then Torts has some interesting decisions to make. No word on Clowe's status.

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Bergen Record - Rangers' power-play deficiencies put them in a hole

Bergen Record - Bruins rookies step up on defense

New York Post - Richards' fall stunning & justified

New York Post - Rangers vow not to linger on extra-time playoff record

New York Post - ‘Tape’ pass for dim power play

Daily News - Outside the box: Rangers must avoid penalties

Daily News - Blueshirts a downer with man up

New York Times - Tortorella Stays Positive Despite the Rangers’ Latest Overtime Failure

Newsday - Rangers are upbeat despite overtime losses

Newsday - Tortorella: Broken play was the right one

Newsday - Staal, Bruins defensemen might return

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During today's very optional practice for the Rangers, Pat Leonard at the Daily News reports that Marc Staal was one of the few Rangers players skating.

...i refuse to get overly-excited about this. Just because he's skating doesn't mean he feels comfortable in game action. Especially against a physical team like the Bruins.

...while I feel the Rangers have been fine defensively without Staal, his ability to carry the puck through the neutral zone is sorely missed especially on the power play where the Rangers have found it very difficult to enter the opponent's zone cleanly.

Meanwhile, it looks like the Bruins backline might be a bit more healthy on Sunday...

#NYR #BOS Julien said it's premature to speculate on status of Seidenberg, Ference, Redden for Gm 2, but said return is a "possibility"

— Katie Strang (@KatieStrangESPN) May 17, 2013

...not sure how truthful Julien is being, but I'd kill to see Redden take the spot of any of the three rookies who were on the Bruins blueline last night. All three looked very poised in a tough spot. Although I'd love to see how all three react in what should be a frenzied environment at MSG for Game 3.

Here's John Tortorella earlier today saying he needs more from a lot of players...

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...