Last night, the Edmonton Oil Kings advanced to the WHL Championship Series with 2-0 win over the Calgary Hitmen. Michael St. Croix, (NYR 4th-'11) scored both goals en route to being named MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals.

So far this postseason, St. Croix is 10-12-22 in 16 games to lead all Oil Kings scorers.

St. Croix was recently ranked as the Rangers' 10th best prospect by Hockey's Future.

To make-up for yesterday's pump-up video debacle, here's a gem from the great AJ Castiglia...

...after watching this, I'm officially ready for the playoffs.

H/T to reader Brad C.

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Jeff Klein at the New York Times says that after a fairly calm season from John Tortorella with the press, last year's playoff temperment seems to be rearing its ugly head...

"But while he has been much better this year, he has relapsed on occasion in the last couple of weeks as the Rangers struggled to salvage a disappointing season by clinching a playoff spot. Thursday morning at Carolina, before a game the Rangers needed to win in order to clinch, he said a reporter should “grow up” after the reporter left the scrum. The reporter left because Tortorella refused to answer a question about Marc Staal’s eye injury, saying it was a distraction from that night’s game."

And Tortorella's outbursts apparently continued yesterday when he chastised the press for misrepresenting his relationship with Marian Gaborik.

...while the press loaths playoff Torts, I absolutely love him. I usually give Torts crap for not disclosing injuries during the regular season, but I actually agree with him being tight lipped during the playoffs. In a seven game series you never want to give your opponent any kind of advantage, so I say eff the press if they don't like not getting answers from Torts on injuries and other team matters.

...as long as the Rangers continue to win games in the second season, Tortorella's press conferences can consist of him sitting there giving the press the finger for all I care.

Klein adds that executives at USA Hockey will be real interested in Torts' attitude during the playoffs as a head coaching position could be on the line.

And of course, no angry Torts post would be complete without the "Next Question" remix...

To say Chris Kreider's year has been a disappointment would be an understatement. A player, who most fans thought would chip in around 15 goals this season, was barely able to stay on the NHL roster.

But all that can easy be forgotten with a repeat of last year's playoff performance. And injuries to Ryane Clowe and Brian Boyle will give him that opportunity (via New York Post)...

“You never want to get a chance because of injuries, but I’m excited to have the opportunity. Getting a little more ice time the last couple of games helped me get into the flow.”

Here's Kreider on feeding off of last year's postseason success...

Bergen Record - Rangers: Derek Stepan elevating his play

New York Post - Rangers' Stepan primed for playoff breakthrough

New York Post - New style, old foe for Rangers

Daily News - Rangers' Nash ready for playoff bash

Newsday - One goal changed Stepan's whole season

Newsday - Rangers must avoid penalties vs. Capitals

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Before you watch this video, know that the music chosen is awful, but the video itself is one of the better I've seen, especially starting at the 4:10 mark...

...man, that video could be epic with a better soundtrack.

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Andrew Gross at the Bergen Record reports that Brian Boyle (right leg) and Ryane Clowe (undisclosed) did not practice again today, however, they were both at the Rangers practice facility.

Gross notes that Boyle  still seemed to be walking with a bit of a limp, but Clowe was walking fine, which may further eliminate the possibility of him having a leg injury, as was first suspected.

...as if it wasn't already looking like a concussion. Any chance it was a leg injury, but now it's fully healed? I doubt it also.

Also at practice, Henrik Lundqvist was given the day off to rest, while there were no new updates on Marc Staal (took some shifts with Girardi) or Derek Dorsett.

...well deserved for Lundqvist. Unless of course he was given the day off because he's secretly injured, then my reaction would be AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't worry, he's not.

The Rangers also revealed their new playoff hat during practice (via Rangers Instagram)...

My good frenemies over at Capitals Outsider and like to exchange questions and have the opposing team writer respond to them every time the Rangers and Capitals face each other in the playoffs; which is every single season ever. This season, of course, is no different, as the Rangers are set to face off against the Capitals in Washington on Thursday. Here are the five questions I had for Capitals Outsider writer Jeff Kleiman as well as his responses:

Anyone with even so much as passing knowledge of the National Hockey League will be aware that stopping Alexander Ovechkin is going to be a top priority for the New York Rangers. Ovechkin led the league in goals for the third time in his NHL career this season with 32. And exactly half of them came while on the powerplay. 

John Buccigross, known by many as the only person at ESPN willing to acknowledge the existence of hockey, has published some pretty interesting details on his Twitter feed about how Ovechkin is effective. Let's look at the information and expand on it.

Over at Blueshirts United, Jim Cerny reports that Marc Staal's conditioning and on-ice play look stronger by the day, and he got a great workout Monday defending against the Rangers top power play unit in the second part of practice.

Here's Staal on his status...

"I haven't written myself off," Staal said of possibly playing at some point against in the Capitals series. "As of right now I have not made a decision one way or the other. Just every day I get more work in and try and improve and get ready."

...yesterday, I was convinced that Staal would not be available for the series, but this report has at least given me a glimmer of hope. Different perceptions of Staal's injury from the beat writers is making it tough to gauge his status. To me the main concern is obviously whether he's comfortable with his vision. Even if he has a minor doubt, I hope he's kept out of the line-up.

Here's Staal on those concerns (via New York Post)...