Helene Elliott at the LA Times reports that the NHL will announce today that the Rangers will start the 2011-12 season in Stockholm, Sweden...

"It will be announced Monday that the Kings will face the New York Rangers at Stockholm on Oct. 7 and the Buffalo Sabres at Berlin on Oct. 8. The Ducks will play the Sabres at Helsinki, Finland, on Oct. 7 and the Rangers at Stockholm on Oct. 8."

...Lundqvist is going to be so pumped.

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Bergen Record - Rangers open playoffs Wednesday against Capitals

New York Post - Marian must show playoff mettle vs. Caps

Daily News - Rangers like the odds against Caps

New York Times - Eighth-Seeded Rangers Have Reasons to Like Their Chances Against Capitals

Wall Street Journal - Why the Rangers Can Beat the Mighty Caps

Newsday - Young Rangers will be tested in playoffs

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Update, 11:37 p.m.:
John Giannone reports that all Versus games will also be broadcast on MSG.

Original Post:
Wednesday, April 13   at Washington, 7:30 p.m.     TSN, VERSUS
Friday, April 15      at Washington, 7:30 p.m.     TSN, VERSUS
Sunday, April 17      at New York, 3:00 p.m.       NBC, TSN
Wednesday, April 20   at New York, 7:00 p.m.       TSN, VERSUS
*Saturday, April 23   at Washington, 3:00 p.m.     TSN, NBC
*Monday, April 25     at New York,TBD              TSN
*Wednesday, April 27  at Washington, TBD           TSN

* If necessary

To view the schedules of the other series click here.

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I'll be talking about the Rangers run to the playoffs and their chances of going far on 'The Program' tonight at 9:05 p.m. To listen click here.

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Not sure if you folks remember this, but back in September while being interviewed at WFAN, Henrik Lundqvist guaranteed the playoffs (via New York Post)...

"Absolutely. We will (be in the playoffs). I promise, we will bounce back," Lundqvist said.

To listen to the entire interview click here.

...this came up in my live chat last night so I wanted to make sure I posted it today. This is stuff of Legends. Great work by Hank as he, more than anyone else, willed this team into the playoffs.

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For those of you not familiar with the Yahoo Sports fantasy rotisserie scoring system click here. For more on TheNYRBlog Fantasy Hockey League Championship round click here.

OVERALL POINTS
Team   G   A  +/-  PPP  SHG  GWG  H   W  GAA  SV%  SO  TOT
GS     8   8   7   7.5  6.5   7   1  5.5  7    7   7   71.5

JDAS   7   3   5   7.5  6.5   7   6   8   3    3  2.5  58.5

BLUE   2   2   8    1   2.5  2.5  8   3   8    8   7   52

MSGU   4   6   6    2   2.5  4.5  2  5.5  6   5.5  7   51

TG     3  4.5  2    4   2.5   7   4  5.5  4   5.5  5   47

FS     1   7   4    4   2.5  4.5  5  5.5  5    4  2.5  45

GTFM   5  4.5  1    6   6.5  2.5  7   1   1    1  2.5  38

S'94   6   1   3    4   6.5   1   3   2   2    2  2.5  33


Team Key: JDAS = Jim Dolan's All Stars, TG = The Greeks, S'94 = Spring of '94, GTFM = GetTheFrolovMatteau, BLUE = BLUESHIRTS, FS = Fire Sather, MSGU = MS G-Unit, GS = Glen Sather

Scoring Key: G = Goals, A = Assists, +/- = +/-, PPP = Power Play Points, SHG = Shorthanded Goals, GWG = Game Winning Goal, H = Hits, W = Wins, GAA = Goals Against Average, SV% = Save Percentage, SO = Shutouts, TOT = Total Points

OVERALL STATS
Team         G  A  +/-  PPP  SHG  GWG  H  W  GAA  SV%  SO
GTFM        20 28  -5    17   1    2  112 3  3.36 .886  0

Fire Sather 10 35   6    14   0    3  104 7  2.16 .925  0

Spring '94  21 25   5    14   1    1  79  4  2.53 .912  0

Glen Sather 28 36  17    18   1    6  58  7  1.84 .934  2

The Greeks  16 28  -1    14   0    6  94  7  2.20 .926  1

MS G-Unit   18 30  14    10   0    3  78  7  2.05 .926  2

Dolan Stars 26 27   8    18   1    6  109 10 2.39 .916  0

BLUESHIRTS  13 26  19    9    0    2  126 5  1.74 .939  2

Thank you to the Rangers and Glass Bangers T-Shirts (I definitely recommend checking them out) for hooking us up with some great prizes.

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...can someone get Torts a phone that works please.

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I know yesterday was all about the Rangers making the playoffs but there was some great news regarding the Blueshirts top prospects as well...

Andrew Yogan (2010 - 4th) scored two goal in his CT Whale debut, while Dylan McIlrath (2010 - 1st) got into his first professional fight. Both signed an Amateur Tryout agreement to play with the Whale last week.

Here's McIlrath's fight...



Meanwhile, Carl Hagelin (2007 - 6th) and the Michigan Wolverines lost in the NCAA National Championship game to Minnesota-Duluth by the score of 3-2 in overtime. Hagelin had a goal disallowed when the ref blew the whistle before he was able to bang home a rebound.

Finally, Christian Thomas (2010 - 2nd) was named third star at Buzzing the Net after his two goal, one assist performance last night lead Oshawa to a 6-4 win over the Niagara IceDogs, tying the second-round series at 1-1.

...what a great day to be a Rangers fan. Blueshirts qualify for the playoffs last night, while their prospects continue to tear it up.

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Chris Drury held a teleconference after the Carolina Hurricanes lost to the Lightning clinching a playoff spot for the Rangers and said that a "significant portion of the guys got together" to watch the game (via Rangers Rants)...

"I think the superstitious guys stayed away," Drury said. "We're happy with the outcome. We're excited about the opportunity to play Washington. We're just very excited...I think everyone was pretty cautious even though earlier it was 3-0, then 4-0. Everybody was pretty cautious and making sure it would end in our favor. We were all pretty excited when it did end. We're thrilled for the opportunity to play the Caps."

On watching the game with Henrik Lundqvist...

"Watching that game next to Henrik is something I never want to do again," Drury said. "It was pretty intense. We're happy to move on to the playoffs."

On the importance of getting to the playoffs for the young players...

"I think it will do tons," said Drury, who won a Stanley Cup as a young NHLer with the Avalanche. "You look through up and down our roster, there's a ton of guys who haven't played in the playoffs. Probably the last six, eight, 10 games have been like playoff hockey for them. It's a terrific opportunity for Derek Stepan, Ryan McDonagh, Mike Sauer to be in the playoffs. I think it's great for our organization that we're going to get that opportunity."

...the best part of the aftermath of the Rangers victory was all the love Drury was getting. Fans were ready to throw him out of town yesterday morning. Us fans can be very fickle.

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Bergen Record - Rangers beat Devils, get a little help to clinch playoff berth

Bergen Record - Misery would have loved company

Bergen Record - Rangers notes:Chris Drury lights lamp

New York Post - Rangers beat Devils and make playoffs when Lightning win

New York Post - Hard work pays off for Blueshirts

New York Post - Captain returns in grand style

New York Post - Rookie McDonagh nets game-winner

New York Post - Tortorella no fan of tiebreaker system

Daily News - LIGHTNING STRIKES: Rangers in!

Daily News - Spector: Capital punishment? It's possible

New York Times - Win, Wait, Then Off to Playoffs for Rangers

Newsday - Rangers win, get help and make playoffs

Newsday - Drury gives Rangers a boost in his return

Newsday - Staple: Tampa gives Rangers help they need

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