TheNYRBlog reader Kevin G. sends me this pic of him wearing the Rangers new playoff uniform before a game in Atlanta earlier in the year...


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. . no comments

TheNYRBlog reader Katie C. send my this photo montage she created honoring the Rangers past right up to the future...



If anyone else has any Rangers related creations be sure to e-mail them to me so I can post it on the 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

For the second year in a row Rangers 2009 first round pick Chris Kreider will represent the United States at the 2011 World Championships from April 29 - May 5 in Slovakia.

Kreider had a 1g, 1a in last year's tournament.

...anytime Kreider can get to play with and against NHL talent is a great thing for his development.

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. .

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

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

Bergen Record
- Rangers drop Game 1 to Capitals, 2-1, in overtime
- Caps’ hero erases bad playoff memory
- Rangers notes: Capitals buckle down
- Rookie goalie delivers for Caps’ coach

New York Post
- Rangers go OT, but drop opener in D.C.
- Gilroy scores in first career playoff action
- Capitals star resurgence is bad news for Blueshirts

Daily News - Semin's OT blast puts Capitals up on Rangers, 1-0, in first-round series

New York Times - Rangers Fall in a Tightly Played Opener

Wall Street Journal - It's Report Card Time for Rangers' Coach

Newsday
- Rangers lose to Caps in OT
- Staple: Rangers had to make it ugly, and they did
- Avery seems to be Rangers' odd man out

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 lost to the Washington Capitals by the score of 2-1 in overtime tonight to go down 1-0 in their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal matchup. For a recap and box score go to Yahoo! Sports and newyorkrangers.com.

...while the score may have said otherwise I thought the Rangers were completely outplayed tonight. Except for the third period, the Rangers had absolutely zero forecheck and if it wasn't for a few Caps crossbars that game would have been over in regulation. Having said that, despite the Capitals taking the play to the Rangers the Blueshirts were able to stay in the game all night with what worked for them all year blocked shots and shear determination which has me confident that this series is far from being over.

...hate to kill Staal who had a great game chasing Ovechkin around but that giveaway was brutal. No pressure on him and two wide open Rangers on the other side of the ice.

...it took Gaborik a little while to get going but I thought he had a very active game which should give him confidence going into the rest of the series.

...was it me or was Boyle & Prust on the ice the entire game.

...as I've been saying Lundqvist can stand on his head all he wants but if the Rangers can't score they're not going to win.

...are we sure McD has never played in the playoffs before? He looked like a seasoned vet out there.

...man Ovechkin is a dirty player. His elbows are up on every hit. And of course nothing is ever called.

...and for anyone complaining about Ovechkin's goal. The puck was loose and the refs did the right thing not blowing the whistle.

...there's more traffic on my street at 1am than the Rangers had in front of Neuvirth tonight. Way to put pressure on a kid playing in his first NHL playoff game.

...Dubinsky needs to step up his game as he's been invisible since scoring the game tying goal against the Bruins last week.

...as always, big opportunity on the power play at the end of the game wasted. I think there's still some Perry Pearn residue effecting the power play.

...great goal by Gilroy should have him back in the lineup Friday night.

...surprised with the early ice time MZA & EC got but come the third period they might as well have stayed in the locker room. Which is why I don't think there is a need to argue MZA vs. Avery because neither one is going to get the minutes to make a difference.

...series are not won or lost in Game 1, so shake it off Rangers fans there's still plenty of hockey to be played.

...next game back at the Verizon Center oin Friday night.

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 visit the Washington Capitals in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series at the Verizon Center starting at 7:30 p.m. For a preview go to Yahoo! Sports.

Rangers Game Notes

TV: MSG Plus; Radio: 1050AM ESPN Radio, XM 205

Probable Lines:
Prospal-Anisimov-Gaborik
Dubinsky-Stepan-Fedotenko
Wolski-Boyle-Prust
Zuccarello-Christensen-Drury

Staal-Girardi
McDonagh-Sauer
McCabe-Gilroy

Goaltenders:
Henrik Lundqvist - 36-27-5, 2.28 gaa, .923 sv%, 11 so.

Michal Neuvirth - 27-12-4, 2.45 gaa, .914 sv%, 4 so.

Opponent Notes:
- Washington won 16 of its last 20 regular season games (16-3-1).

- Alex Ovechkin finished the season with 32 goals, down from 50 last year. Nicklas Backstrom dipped from 33 to 18. Alexander Semin from 40 to 28. Brooks Laich from 25 to 16.

- The Capitals' penalty kill improved from 25th in the league last season to No. 2 in 2010-11.

- Mike Green (concussion) expects to play tonight for the first time since Feb. 25th.

- Jason Arnott has 4g, 3a in 11 games since being acquired from the Devils at the trade deadline.

- Michael Neuvirth was 1-1-0 with a 4.50 gaa and .839 sv% against the Rangers this season.

2010-11 Season Series:
Nov. 9 Rangers 3, Capitals 5 at MSG
Dec. 12 Rangers 7, Capitals 0 at MSG
Jan. 24 Rangers 2, Capitals 1 (SO) at Washington
Feb. 25 Rangers 6, Capitals 0 at Washington

Opponent Blog:
Rock the Red

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. .

Andrew Gross at Ranger Rants reports that Martin Biron (collarbone), who is with the team in Washington, is starting to regain full motion in his shoulder and will be re-examined once the series shifts back to New York...

"They might say, 'It's going good, take another week,' they might say, 'Go skate,'" Biron said.

...i'm hoping that Biron can get back soon. The playoffs are a long grind and we can't expect Hank to have his 'A' game every night so Biron could play a kep role at some point in the playoffs.

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. .

Katie Carrera at the Capitals Insider reports that Bruce Boudreau says Mike Green is still a game time decision.

Boudreau estimates D Dennis Wideman (leg) may be able to return in three weeks.

Carrera gives this line-up for tonight assuming Green plays:

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Knuble
Sturm-Arnott-Semin
Laich-Johansson-Chimera
Hendricks-Gordon-Bradley

Alzner-Carlson
Schultz-Hannan
Erskine-Green

Neuvirth

...like I said the other day expect Green in the line-up. Not sure how much of an impact he will have, but Rangers still need to respect his offense from the blueline.

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