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.

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. .

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

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. .

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...

It's only Game 1 and we already have Henrik Lundqvist calling out his teammates for their putrid offensive effort, especially in overtime, during last night's 3-2 loss to the Bruins.

After being asked if his terrible playoff overtime record (3-11) was getting in his head, Lundqvist answered with this...

"Have I played bad in overtime? No. Can I score? No. Is it frustrating? Yes."

...i don't blame Lundqvist in the slightest for being furious. With three inexperienced defensemen in the Bruins line-up, the strategy was to come out and establish a strong forecheck. And with the exception of a few shifts from the Pyatt-Boyle-Dorsett line, it was non-existent. Nothing from Cally, Stepan or Hagelin, who are counted on to be a forechecking force.

...pretty much one opportunity and done for the Rangers in the Bruins end. Very rarely was there sustained offense on the power play or even strength. Not sure I can recall once when the Rangers had multiple shots on goal during a possession. In overtime, I was pretty much just waiting for the Bruins to end it. Had zero confidence the Rangers would find a way to steal Game 1.

...and would it kill this team to put a guy in front?

...eight games and counting for Nash.

...btw, the Rangers potpourri fourth line got completely owned by the Bruins'. Torts needs to change that trio up immediately. The Boyle line would be much more effective against Thornton's line. Need to get Kreider and Richards back in the top nine. I know Richards is God awful right now, but he's not a fourth line player. He's been through the grind of the playoffs and knows what it takes to win.

...the most frustrating part is I felt they held up very well physically. Which is why I'm still very confident. Similar to the first two losses in the Caps series, I feel this one had more to do with what the Rangers didn't do than what the Bruins did.

Speaking of Lundqvist, not exactly vintage Hank last night...

Bergen Record - Rangers fall in Game 1 to Bruins, 3-2, in OT

Bergen Record - Rangers notes: Claude Julien talks about John Tortorella

New York Post - Rangers get ‘spanked’ in Game 1 OT loss

New York Post - Lundqvist’s playoff OT struggles continue

New York Post - Tortorella keeps focus away from Rangers

New York Post - Tortorella shakes up pairings

Daily News - Bruins 'March' to Game 1 OT win over Rangers

Daily News - Leonard: Lundqvist puts up ‘help wanted’ sign

New York Times - On Overtime Rush, Bruins Slip Past Rangers

New York Times - Marchand Feels Pain in the Morning and Inflicts It at Night

Wall Street Journal - A Familiar Finish in OT: Rangers Lose

Newsday - Marchand's OT goal sinks Rangers in Game 1

Newsday - Lundqvist wasn't bad, just mad at himself

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. .