One thing I continue to tell anyone who will listen is how amazing the readers of this blog are. And once again you guys have stepped up big time. TheNYRBlog reader Gary H. attended the Rangers/Devils viewing party at Mustang Sally's Friday night and sent me over these pics...



While reader Chris H. sent this sick panoramic pic of the Whale Bowl from Saturday night...


Like I always say, reader pics are by far my favorite part of the blog, so 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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Jeff Klein at Slap Shot was able to catch-up with Brandon Dubinsky, Michael Sauer and Ryan McDonagh to discuss their memories of growing up playing hockey in the United States.

Here's Dubinsky on growing up in Alaska...

"For a kid, you had exposure to all the ice you wanted to, with all the outdoor rinks. There were tons — every single elementary school, middle school, high school had 'em. So you could play anytime, anywhere you wanted to. I grew up playing on them with all my friends."

To read Sauer & McD's memories click here.

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Larry Brooks at the New York Post reports that Kings general manager Dean Lombardi recently has canvassed his friends among league executives for their opinions on Marian Gaborik.

...well I guess if the Kings actually did have interest in Gaborik they don't anymore.

...would have been great to hear a package being discussed.

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The Fourth Period (TFP) is reporting that the Rangers are one of several teams interested in Oilers right wing Ales Hemsky.

TFP adds that the Rangers are supposedly dangling defenseman Michael Del Zotto as part of a deal for Hemsky.

Hemsky, 27, has 13 goals and 27 assists in 42 games this season. He has one-year left on his contract beyond this season at $4.1 million per.

...TFP is a legit rumor site on par with Spector's Hockey so I felt compelled to post this. However, I would be 100% against this move. Sure, MDZ is struggling right now but to me is potential is unlimited. No way I'm giving up on a 20-year-old who could be the team's pp QB for the next 10 years for a "scoring" winger who only has 13 goals this season.

...with Gaborik going down it's going to be real tempting for Sather to make a panic move right now, but he needs to take a deep breath realize this team isn't making noise with or without Hemsky and back away from the phone.

...this team is not ready to win yet. And giving up on someone who could be a huge piece of the Rangers future for a "quick fix" would be a colossel mistake.

...h/t to the Rangers Tribune.

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ergen Record - Rangers fall to the Flyers, 4-2, and announce Marian Gaborik has a concussion

Bergen Record - Rangers notes: No whistle for Flyers

New York Post - Gaborik exits loss with concussion

New York Post - Torts' plays favorites -- those who've earned ice time

New York Post - Winger's big game ends in Wo

New York Post - Skidding Blueshirts can't solve iffy goalie

New York Times - First-Place Flyers Extend Rangers’ Slump

Daily News - Rangers lose Gaborik to concussion as Flyers continue mastery over Blueshirts

Rangers head coach John Tortorella speaks with reporters following the Blueshirts' 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in Feb. 20 at The Garden.


Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist and alternate captain Ryan Callahan discuss the Blueshirts' 4-2 loss to the Flyers on Feb. 20 at Madison Square Garden.


Rangers vs. Flyers lowlights

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Andrew Gross at Ranger Rants reports that Marian Gaborik left today's game with a concussion that he may have sustained in a previous game...

"Gaborik was playing along," Tortorella said, adding Gaborik came out of today's day after complaining of being off, which, Tortorella said, was the first time Gaborik had given the Rangers any concrete indication. "I know he's had some conversations off the ice, he just wasn't dead on. But that's something we're going to have to talk to him and Rammer (trainer Jim Ramsey) about.

"It didn't happen this game, I'm not sure when it happened," Tortorella said at first, before softening those comments. "He's been off and on. I don't know when it happened."

...if the Rangers knew he had a concussion and still allowed him to play this will be the biggest concussion bungle since the Mets with Ryan Church. I'll reserve further judgement until we hear more details.

Kris Newbury has been recalled from the CT Whale.

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The New York Rangers (31-26-4) lost to the Philadelphia Flyers (39-15-5) by the score of 4-2, today. For a recap and box score go to Yahoo! Sports and newyorkrangers.com.

...if only this team could finish. When you only have one real sniper on your team there are going to be plenty of games when they just can't find the back of the net no matter how many golden opportunities they get.

...to show how tough a year Gaborik is having I don't really think the Rangers are going to miss him, production wise, if he's out a significant amount of time with this concussion.

...nice to see the MZA-Stepan-Wolski line click again. They can be a very exciting line. Unfortunately, because they are so young they'll also be inconsistent.

...i know Hank looked pretty bad on that third goal, but if you look at the reply his stick gets caught up with Sauer throwing off his balance and leaving the five hole wide open.

...btw, sorry for the late recap but family comes first.

...thought Sauer and McD had tough games. McD with a giveaway at the blueline before the first Fkyers goal then they allowed Carcillo to get behind them on the above mentioned third goal.

...except for the shootout goal against the Kings, EC has been a no show since returning from injury.

...i mentioned this on Twitter last night. When Fedotenko comes back it might be a good idea to sit Prust for a few games. I give the guy full marks for gutting it out through numerous injuries but they're starting to catch-up with him.

...no power plays? The refs had to have missed something, right?

...just 11 minutes for Prospal tonight. His return hasn't exactly sparked Gaborik or the Rangers.

...off tomorrow then a huge game in Carolina.

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The New York Rangers (31-25-4) host Philadelphia Flyers (38-15-5) at MSG today starting at 12:30 p.m. For a preview go to Yahoo! Sports.

Rangers Game Notes

TV: NBC; Radio: 1050AM ESPN Radio, XM204

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

Staal-Girardi
Gilroy-Del Zotto
McDonagh-Sauer

Goaltenders:
Henrik Lundqvist - 23-19-4, 2.36 gaa, .921 sv%, 7 so.

Brian Boucher - 14-6-2, 2.27 gaa, .920 sv%, 0 so

Opponent Notes:
- Philadelphia has won four straight and six of the last eight meetings against the Rangers, but the Blueshirts have won four of the past six matchups at MSG.

- The Flyers' penalty kill is 44 for 48 (91.7 percent) in their last 13 games.

- Former Ranger Blair Betts, who ended a 44-game drought with a shorthanded goal Friday night, is 64.7 percent (55 for 85) on faceoffs in the last eight games, but may not play today due to injury.

- Another former Blueshirt Nik Zherdev has been a healthy scratch the last four games and the Flyers are actively trying to trade him. Zherdev has 15 goals but his poor defensive play has kept him out of the lineup.

- Mike Richards sat out Friday's game with the flu and is day-to-day.

- Claude Giroux leads the Flyers in assists (33) and points (52), while Danny Briere leads in goals (28).

2010-11 Season Series:
Nov. 4 Rangers 1, Flyers 4 at Philadelphia
Dec. 18 Rangers 1,. Flyers 4 at Philadelphia
Jan. 16 Rangers 2 vs. Flyers 3 at MSG
Feb. 20 Rangers vs. Flyers at MSG
March 6 Rangers vs. Flyers at MSG
April 3 Rangers vs. Flyers at Philadelphia

Opponent Blog:
Flyers Goal Scored By

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Yahoo! Sports says that when the Rangers and Flyers take the ice this afternoon no one will need to remind Philly of what happened in their last visit to Madison Square Garden on Jan. 16 when Sean Avery one punched Matt Carle and Brandon Prust blasted Kimmo Timonen into the boards in the closing seconds of the Flyers 3-2 win.

Danny Briere took a swing at Prust from the Flyers bench after the hit on Timonen and was fined $1,000.

Peter Laviolette said this after the game...

"I think what's frustrating is we had lots of guys that wanted to have a little dance with Avery but he wouldn't respond," Laviolette said. "That's what's frustrating about the whole thing. He goes after Matt Carle. I don't think he has any fights in his whole career. We've got lots of guys that wanted to do it, (Avery) just didn't want to respond."

Yahoo! says to expect the Flyers to dress enforcer and former Ranger Jody Shelley and agitator Dan Carcillo.

...good, I hope the Flyers come in more concerned about Avery and Prust than beating the Rangers. Amazing how Avery after all these years is still able to get under teams' skin.

...and who are the Flyers to say anything about Avery fighting Carle? Do those guys even remember Carcillo fighting Gaborik?

To watch video of the Avery/Carle fight and Briere taking a swing at Prust click here.

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