The New York Rangers (33-29-4) lost to the Minnesota Wild (34-25-6) by the score of 3-1, tonight. For a recap and box score go to Yahoo! Sports and newyorkrangers.com.

...why can't these guys finish around the net? It's like they see an open net and absolutely crap down their leg. As always the effort is there, but  I guess when you have no legit scoring threat in the line-up these things are going to happen. Unfortunately it's happening at the worst possible time.

...amazingly tonight was the exact opposite of what has been happening lately. Quick start and then got worse as the game wore on.

...Rangers now 14-16-3 at MSG. Disgraceful.

...Avery is the best player on the ice in the first period and Torts rewards him with just 7:54 of ice time in the game.

...love Callahan, but he's got to start burying some of these shots.

...Dubinsky probably had the quietest eight shot night I've ever seen.

...1-for-10 on the power play since the McCabe acquisition. Just sayin'.

...traffic in front of the net, traffic in front of the net, traffic in front of the net.

...i have to laugh to keep myself from crying with all these injuries.

...can the Rangers please put a body on the man in front of the net on the pk?

...is it me or has Girardi been awful since returning from injury?

...horrible night around the league for the Rangers as Habs, Canes, Sabres and Toronto all get points meaning the Rangers drop to eighth just two points ahead of Buffalo.

...no time the sulk as Rangers visit the lowly Senators tomorrow night.

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The New York Rangers (33-28-4, 70 pts., 7th in East) host the Minnesota Wild (33-25-6, 72 pts., 11th in West) at MSG tonight starting at 7:00 p.m. For a preview go to Yahoo! Sports.

Rangers Game Notes

TV: MSG; Radio: 1050AM ESPN Radio, XM208

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

Staal-Girardi
McDonagh-Sauer
McCabe-Gilroy

Goaltenders:
Henrik Lundqvist - 25-22-4, 2.34 gaa, .921 sv%, 8 so.

Jose Theodore - 11-8-2, 2.63 gaa, .919 sv%, 1 so.

Opponent Notes:
- The Wild are 3-5-1 over their last nine contests.

- Kyle Brodziak has 16 points in the last 17 games (4g, 12a).

- Martin Havlat has four goals and three assists over the last seven games.

- Andrew Brunette has no goals and one assist in the last six games.

- Mikko Koivu (broken finger) was injured Feb. 18 and is expected to miss a minimum of three weeks.

- Former Rangers fan favorite Jed Ortmeyer was recalled by the Wild on Tuesday and was held held scoreless against the Islanders last night.

- Another former Ranger Matt Cullen has 12g, 24a on the season.

2010-11 Season Series:
Nov. 20 Rangers 5, Wild 2 at Minnesota
March 3 Rangers vs. Wild at MSG

Opponent Blog:
The State of Hockey News

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On Tuesday night, I was a guest on WCWP internet radio, the home of CW Post University on Long Island, to discuss the Rangers and trade deadline happenings. Here's the audio for anyone interested....


....and yes I know Montoya was part of the Sjostrom trade not the Morris trade. Got confused with all the transactions the Rangers have had with Maloney and the Yotes.

...let me know what you think in the comments section.

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...not exactly the news we were hoping for. Guess they should have kept him up with the Rangers. ;)

For more on the Del Zotto injury click here.

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With the Madison Square Garden renovation expected to hit the bottom bowl this summer here is the seating chart for next season...


For more on the Garden renovation click here.

...h/t to Scotty Hockey.

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Update, 1:27 p.m.:
Andrew Gross reports that Ruslan Fedotenko will return to the Rangers lineup tonight, while Kris Newbury has been sent back down to the CT Whale.

Update, 11:46 a.m.:
Gaborik, who is expected to travel with the team to Ottawa, says his headaches are less and less intense, and he describes them more as pressure. No dizziness.

...still don't care, get him at 100% then talk about his return date.

Update, 11:38 a.m.:
Jesse Spector reports that Gaborik felt worse today than yesterday after waking up this morning with a headache, but he saw it as a positive that he was still able to skate.

...if Gaborik is still getting headaches they have to shut him down for another week. He needs to be 100% symptom free before the Rangers even think about getting him back in the lineup.

Original Post:
Andrew Gross tweets that Marc Staal says he will play tonight against the Wild at MSG.

...giddy-up. Assuming Eminger is the odd man out.

Gross also reports that Marian Gaborik skated for second straight day. However, Tortorella said yesterday he won't play tonight.

...giddy-up again.

Finally, Gross notes that Derek Boogaard will start skating regularly on Monday, but would not say if he was traveling with team to California.

...i thought the Rangers were shutting this guy down? Or at least I was hoping they were.

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Laurie Carr at Beyond the Blueshirts reports Andrei Nazarov, head coach of the KHL's Checkhov Vityaz, who is known for giving NHL/AHL-rejects such as Chris Simon, Darcy Verot, Brandon Sugden and Josh Gratton a chance was recently in New York to check-in on Artem Anisimov as the Russian National team is interested in him playing for them.

However, during an interview Nazarov, who previously played in the NHL, said he spoke with former teammate Derek Boogaard and may have had a secondary motive for being in New York...

And how would you comment on your interest in Boogard?

- It's clear that nothing has been decided yet, and that general manager Alexei Zhamnov is ultimately in charge of personnel questions for Vityaz. But I've known Derek ever since we played together for Minnesota, when he was taking his first steps in the NHL. Even then I guessed that Boogard would make some noise in the League. And that's happened.

I'll phrase the question in another way: during your trip through the NHL are you searching for a fighter for Vityaz?

- First of all I'm here on national team business. But — I won't hide — the problem you mentioned is solved...

...if Sather is somehow able to unload Boogaard to Russia he is officially a magician.

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TheNYRBlog reader Coleen S. sends this pic of her father and nephew, who she was able to turn into a Rangers fan despite him growing up in the non-hockey friendly Florida area, on the youngsters 10th birthday. Way to carry on the family tradition Coleen...


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.

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Bergen Record - Gaborik practicing but won't face Wild

New York Post - Rangers' slip is showing again

Daily News - Staal 'hopeful' to return for Rangers

New York Times -Many in N.H.L. View Fighting as Necessary

Wall Street Journal - Too Bad the Rangers Can't Play Them All on the Road

Newsday - Gaborik making progress toward return

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Update, 10:29 p.m.:
Mitch Beck at Howlings Today says Del Zotto was wearing a splint on his injured wrist after the game.

Del Zotto said it's going to be examined tomorrow by a hand specialist

 Original Post:

...a lost season for Del Zotto just got worse.

...its gotten so bad the injury bug is following Rangers down to the Whale now.

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