Joe DeLessio at New York Magazine recaps what was one crazy week in Rangersland...

Sunday: The Rangers win a tough road game in Philadelphia.
Monday: After falling behind 3–0 to Boston, the Rangers rally for a wild 5–3 victory. Defensive defenseman Michael Sauer, a rookie, scores the game-winning goal.
Tuesday: Word comes that Ryan Callahan will be out indefinitely with a broken ankle suffered during the previous night's game.
Wednesday: The Hurricanes blank Detroit to move to within two points of the Rangers.
Thursday: The Rangers look flat for much of the game in a 3–0 loss to Atlanta, which causes them to lose control of their own destiny.
Friday: The Hurricanes pound that same Atlanta team, 6–1, to bump the Rangers out of the playoff picture for the time being.
Saturday afternoon: Needing at least a point to stay alive, the Rangers beat the Devils 5–2. Chris Drury, on his first shift since returning from an injury, scores his first goal of the season. Defensive defenseman Ryan McDonaugh, a rookie, scores the game-winning goal. It's his first in the NHL.
Saturday night: The Hurricanes, playing at home against a talented Tampa Bay team that has nothing to play for, fall behind 4–0 midway through the game, lose 6–2, and are eliminated from playoff contention, giving the No. 8 seed to the Rangers.

...i've got to admit I was exhausted Saturday night. The range of emotions I went through last week had finally taken its toll. Let's hope the playoffs will be a little less stressful. Yeah, right.

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Blueshirts United has this quote from Brian McCabe about getting back to the playoffs...

"It's been a number of years, for sure, so there are going to be some butterflies and lots of excitement and adrenaline flowing. That's why I came here, for the opportunity to chase the Stanley Cup, and I'm glad it worked out. That's the first part. Now we have a lot of work to do in the playoffs."

...McCabe hasn't had the impact on the power play that I had hoped (1 for their last 27) but he is a veteran that some of the younger defensemen can go to for some advice.

Although Torts doesn't feel that experience is all that important based on his Cup run with Tampa (via Rangers Rants)...

"I was fortunate to be involved with a team that didn't have a clue what we were doing," Tortorella said of the Lightning, who won the Cup in 2004. "So I hope we're a real stupid team as far as that's all concerned. And I really don't think we should feel the pressure. We've gone through some situations, especially the last couple of weeks, it's the pressure, there's a lot of tightness that comes involved with it, trying to get in. I think we've learned our lessons. I think we've handled the situations well. I think we just go in relaxed. We'll compete, I know the juices are going to be there. There shouldn't be any added pressure, we just need to go out and try to play our game."

For more player quotes visit the Blueshirts Blog.

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Jesse Spector reports these lines from parctice...

Prospal-Anisimov-Gaborik
Dubinski-Stepan-Fedotenko
Wolski-Boyle-Prust
Avery/Zuccarello-Christensen-Drury

...got to assume MZA is back up to stay. I still don't think Torts trusts Avery to stay under control in a big spot plus MZA could give a nice offensive spark. Even if MZA only gets five minutes a game the playoff experience will go a long way towards his development.

Spector also says the Rangers worked on special teams during the second half of practice.

...good 1 for the last 27 on the power play isn't going to cut it in the playoffs.

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Just an FYI that individual playoff tickets will go on sale at noon today. To purchase click here.

You can also find great deals through TiqIq which I have a widget for in the right sidebar. For those deals click here.

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...anyone who reads this blog knows I've been hyping this kid for awhile now. So I'm super excited.

Hagelin, who had 18g, 31a in 43 games this season, helped lead Michigan to the NCAA National Championship game last Saturday night.

For more on Hagelin click here.

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TheNYRBlog reader Kyle H. and his girlfriend sent me this pic of them during Saturday's ridiculously huge win over the Devils that helped them clinch a playoff spot.


...these two are good luck. Someone get them playoff tickets.

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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No, not that Glen Sather, I'm talking about the winning team of TheNYRBlog Fantasy Hockey League Championship Round.

By a whopping 14.5 points Team Glen Sather is the champion of the inaugural season of TheNYRBlog Fantasy Hockey League. For winning the championship Team Glen Sather gets a ridiculous prize pack courtesy of the New York Rangers.

The other seven division winners who also participated in the championship round will also receive the below prizes (I picked out of a hat which prize went to which team)...

Blueshirts - Glass Bangers T-shirt
Fire Sather - Glass Bangers T-Shirt
GetTheFrolovMatteau - Glass Bangers T-shirt
Jim Dolan All Stars - Sean Avery signed puck
MS G-Unit - Sean Avery signed puck
The Greeks - Retired Rangers card in glass brick
Spring of '94 - Retired Rangers card in glass brink

For the three teams that won the Glass Bangers t-shirt, check out their website (http://www.glassbangers.com) and pick which shirt you want. They will be contacting you by e-mail soon.

I want to thank all 80 teams that participated in the league. I had such a great time and hope you all did as well. Can't wait to do it again next year.

Here are the final standings...

Mark Messier was a guest on WFAN's Boomer & Carton Show this morning to talk Rangers playoff hockey...



...thank God for Boomer on WFAN. Not sure there'd be any hockey talk without him.

...i listened to Messier this morning. Great work as always by our future GM. ;)

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Here is compilation of all the Rangers/Capitals previews out there...

ESPN.com feels the key matchup will be Henrik Lundqvist vs. Michal Neuvirth.

CBS Sports feels the X-factor in the series will be the Capitals goaltending.

A solid forecheck and Lundqvist is how The Hockey News says the Rangers can win this series.

NHL.com says this series will be a contrast in styles.

The Sporting News says the Ranger 7-0 thumping of the Capitals forced the #1 seed to change their style and are now better prepared.

...loving that all the "experts" are picking the Capitals to win.

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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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