Bergen Record - Gaborik hopes struggles left behind in Pittsburgh

New York Post - Western trip turned Rangers from mild to wild

Daily News - Fedotenko on Cooke: 'Use your head'

New York Times - Canucks Lose Center Manny Malhotra for Season With Eye Injury

Newsday - Pens' Cooke suspended after McDonagh hit

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As I'm sure you've already heard Matt Cooke received his sentence from the NHL this evening for his head shot on Ryan McDonagh last night.

To me, the decision to suspend him the rest of the regular season (10 games) and the first round of the playoffs seems more than fair for this repeat offender.

As I gave credit to Pens coach Dan Bylsma for his comments on the incident last night, I again have to compliment the Pens after General Manager Ray Shero released this statement after the suspension announcement...

"The suspension is warranted because that's exactly the kind of hit we're trying to get out of the game. Head shots have no place in hockey. We've told Matt in no uncertain terms that this kind of action on the ice is unacceptable and cannot happen. Head shots must be dealt with severely, and the Pittsburgh Penguins support the NHL in sending this very strong message."

Earlier in the day, Pens owner Mario Lemieux, who had some serious egg on his face last night due to his recent attack on the NHL for not cracking down on head shots, had a conversation with Cooke that he better change his ways or he will be gone.

If you ask me I think Cooke also deserves another one of these...



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Update, 2:40 p.m.:
Torts post practice presser (via The Blueshirts Blog)...



Updated, 1:26 p.m.:
After practice Torts said that McDonagh will be fine for tomorrow but gave no update on Staal other than "just injured."

Lundqvist says stiff/sore neck is "similar" to yesterday but much better than Friday.

Original post:
Henrik Lundqvist is on the ice practicing this morning, while Marc Staal (undiscloed injur) and Ryan McDonagh (cheap shotted) are not.

...not liking Staal missing another practice. Hope this isn't a long term injury for him. Defense definitely struggled at times last night. Miscommunication between Girardi and Eminger on Jordan Staal goal.

...not concerned about McD. I don't think any of us would be practicing the day after taking one to the chops the way he did. Very encouraging that he was able to finish the game.

Here are today's lines....

Dubinsky-Anisimov-Callahan
Prospal-Christensen-Gaborik
Fedotenko-Boyle-Prust
Avery/Wolski-Stepan-Zuccarello

...assume healthy scratch will between Avery and Wolski again for tomorrow night.

This picture of Callahan and Gaborik challenging Lundqvist was tweeted out by the Rangers at this morning's practice...


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With just one week remaining in TheNYRBlog fantasy hockey regular season it looks like all the divisions are pretty much sewn up...

Messier Division:
Getthefrolovmatteau has a 91 to 78.5 point lead over 2nd place Zissou.

Leetch Division:
FireSather has a 86.5 to 79 point lead over 2nd place Strader Invaders.

Gilbert Division:
Spring of '94 has a 83 to 73.5 point lead over 2nd place Scotch & Cigars.

Richter Division:
Glen Sather has a 81 to 70 point lead over 2nd place Large Marge Sent Me.

Giacomin Division:
The Greeks has a 82 to 66.5 point lead over 2nd place upstatenyrangers.

Bathgate Division:
MS G-Unit has a 85 to 79 point lead over 2nd place BK Beanie.

Graves Division:
Jim Dolan All-Star's has a 86 to 79.5 point lead over 2nd place Theo Fleury's Dealer.

Howell Division:
BLUESHIRTS has a 86.5 to 73 point lead over 2nd place TapeOnTheFoil.

The winner of each of the eight divisions will not only win a great prize, but will also be placed in a two-week rotisserie finale starting next Monday, March 28th for the grand prize.

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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Bergen Record - Power-play goals help Rangers score 5-2 win over Penguins

Bergen Record - Rangers notes: Injured Marc Staal sits

New York Post - Achy Hank starts win after push from coach

New York Post - Cooke's cheap shot will test crackdown

Daily News - A power-ful display as the Blueshirts stay hot, roll past Penguins, 5-2

New York Times - Rangers Beat Penguins to Extend Win Streak to 4

Newsday - Rangers top Pens to win fourth straight

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Torts post game presser (via The Blueshirts Blog)


Rangers @ Penguins highlights.

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Jesse Spector at the Blueshirts Blog reports that while John Tortorella took a pass on discussing the cheap shot elbow Matt Cooke landed to Ryan McDonagh's jaw, Glen Sather had this to say...

"Don't worry, he should get 10 games!"

...not sure if he's able to but I'd like to see Sather make a call to Campbell to lobby for a stiff suspension.

McDonagh on the hit...

"I didn't see him coming," McDonagh said of Cooke. "I had no idea. I know it hurt, that's for sure. "I'm sure he's not trying to get his team a five-minute penalty. He's probably just trying to finish his check, and just caught me – caught me wrong."

...assuming when the mics aren't on McD has a different take on the hit.



In the Penguins defense, here is what Dan Bylsma had to say after the game...

“I don’t think you can talk about eliminating head shots from the game, as we have, as an organization, and not expect that to be examined, as what looks to be contact right to the head, on the play. The league will look at that, and treat it as such.”

...the saddest part was watching all the Pens fans who cried about the Islanders cheap shots a month ago defend this guy on Twitter tonight. Didn't Lemieux say he'd leave the game if this cheap stuff didn't cease. Guess we should expect a press conference announcing that tomorrow.

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The New York Rangers (39-30-4) defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins (41-23-8) by the score of 5-2, today. For a recap and box score go to Yahoo! Sports and newyorkrangers.com.

...i didn't catch the game live, but I did see the score before I watched on the DVR and assumed it was a Rangers blowout. Man was I wrong. With the Rangers power play just giving up a shorthanded goal and doing nothing on a 5-on-3 I thought I misread the final score, but as has been the case all year this team dug down deep and found a way to win a huge game against a tough Penguins team.

...maybe Hank should play with a sore neck all the time.

...all I have to say is Ryan "C"allahan.

...not sure why Rangers fans are hating on Matt Cooke, he won the Blueshirts the game. Great to see McD was able to finish out the game.

...he's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack the 09-10 Gaborik is finally making an appearance as the Rangers sniper has goals in three straight.

...i figured out the reason Staal didn't play today was that Torts was afraid Marc's other brother Jordan was going to lay him out the way Eric did last month. Smart move coach.

...did I actually say I'd be pissed if the Rangers not wanting to give up Anisimov was the reason the Richards trade didn't go down? Good thing I'm not the one making decisions over there. Add some muscle to AA this summer and he could be a force for years to come.

...Dubinsky must have the record for empty net goals in a season. Can someone look that up?

...seriously, did anyone think Sauer was going to be this good at the start of the season? Me neither.

...nice confidence goal for Stepan who had just one goal in his previous 9 games. Nice to see his line getting some late game minutes. Only going to help with his development.

...did the refs really call a penalty on McD for getting punch in the face with less than four to play? Awful.

...Buffalo loses in OT, while Devils and Montreal win.

...off tomorrow then the next biggest game of the season as the Panthers are in town.

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The New York Rangers (38-30-4, 78 pts., 7th in East) visit the Pittsburgh Penguins (41-22-8, 90 pts., 4th in East) at CONSOL Energy Center today starting at 12:30 p.m. For a preview go to Yahoo! Sports.

Rangers Game Notes

TV: NBC; Radio: 970AM The Apple, XM 205

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

Eminger-Girardi
McDonagh-Sauer
McCabe-Gilroy

Goaltenders:
Henrik Lundqvist - 30-24-4, 2.35 gaa, .920 sv%, 9 so.

Marc-Andre Fleury - 31-17-5, 2.35 gaa, .918 sv%, 2 so.

Opponent Notes:
- The Penguins have won four of their last five games.

- The Penguins are 2-for-40 on the power play over their last 12 games.

- Chris Kunitz has two goals and three assists in four games.

- Former Ranger Alex Kovalev has just 1g, 1a in the 9 games since being traded to the Penguins from Ottawa.

- Sidney Crosby remains out of the lineup indefinitely with a concussion. The team has not released any information regarding a timetable for Crosby returning because, simply, there isn't one. He has resumed skating.

- C Evgeni Malkin is off crutches and is almost a month removed from surgery to repair the torn ACL and MCL in his right knee.

- D Brooks Orpik is out at least one more week because of a broken finger.

2010-11 Season Series:
Nov. 15 Rangers 3, Penguins 2 (OT) at Pittsburgh
Nov. 29 Rangers 1, Penguins 3 at MSG
Dec. 15 Rangers 4, Penguins 1 at Pittsburgh
Feb. 1 Rangers 3 vs. Penguins 4 (SO) at MSG
Feb. 13 Rangers 5 vs. Penguins 3 at MSG
March 20 Rangers vs. Penguins at Pittsburgh

Opponent Blog:
The Pens Blog

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Update, 10:52 p.m.:
Torts pre game presser (via Jesse Spector)...



Original Post:
Andrew Gross tweets that despite a sore neck Henrik Lundqvist will start today against the Penguins, however, Marc Staal is out with an undisclosed injury. Meaning Matt Gilroy is back in.

Regarding Staal injury, John Tortorella says this close to playoffs his fear is other team's target injured areas on players that are hurt, so he doesn't want to put Staal at risk.

New defensive pairings...

Eminger-Girardi
McDonagh-Sauer
McCabe-Gilroy

Sean Avery is once again a healthy scratch.

...great news on Hank, but wtf happened to Staal? He did take a stick to the eye against Montreal but did return. Could be the knee injury flaring up.

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