Category Archives: Rangers Updates
Rangers Practice Report; Girardi okay, Klein out for Game 2
Bobby Bevilacqua
Dan Girardi is okay after getting hit in the jaw with a deflected puck. He practiced Friday afternoon and will play in Game 2. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
After the first playoff game last night, Alain Vigneault had his troops hard at work today during practice ahead of Game 2 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
Rangers’ fans got a bit of a scare last night when Dan Girardi fell to the ice after getting hit in the jaw with a deflected puck. Girardi left the ice with 9:23 left in the game, and did not return.
However, Dan Girardi was back on the ice today at practice, and did not have many marks as a result of the stray puck. Girardi said that he was not cut on the inside or outside of his mouth, did not have any fractures, with just “a little swelling.” Girardi did not have any further protection, sporting just the helmet and visor. Read the rest of this entry
Series Preview, Round 1: Rangers vs. Penguins
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers and the Penguins will meet again in the postseason for the second consecutive year. This time, the Rangers look to have the advantage, with the Penguins a depleted, and seemingly weaker team than last season. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
After a crazy end to the regular season, the season closed with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the final Wild Card spot, meaning that for the second consecutive season, the Rangers and the Penguins will face off in the playoffs, this time in the first round.
Last year’s series against the Penguins was one of the most memorable in the entire postseason run for New York. After starting the series with the “double-goal” from Beniot Pouliot and Derick Brassard in overtime, the Rangers dropped the next three games, finding themselves in a 3-1 hole.
After the passing of newly acquired Martin St. Louis’ mother, France, his teammates rallied around the unfortunate tragedy. The Blueshirts won game five on the road, and came back to Madison Square Garden for Game 6 on Mother’s Day, where St. Louis scored an emotional goal en route to a win. Thanks to goals from Brad Richards and Brian Boyle in Game 7 in Pittsburgh, and a spectacular goaltending performance from Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers completed the comeback to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Read the rest of this entry
Martin St. Louis ready to return tomorrow; Rangers sign Brady Skjei
Bobby Bevilacqua
Martin St. Louis will make his return to the Rangers lineup tomorrow night, after missing the previous eight games with a knee injury. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
Martin St. Louis and Alain Vigneault both confirmed this afternoon that the veteran winger would be making his return to action tomorrow night when the Rangers take on the Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Energy Center. St. Louis has been out of the lineup since March 15th with a sprained MCL in his right knee.
“I’m not used to not being part [of the lineup],” St. Louis said when asked about if he was excited about returning to the team. “I don’t know what the amount of games I’ve missed in my career is, but I know it’s not a lot.”
St. Louis was feeling better ahead of yesterday’s game in Winnipeg, and participated in the morning skate, but both Alain Vigneault and he opted to give him a full practice today in Minnesota. During practice, Marty was skating on a very interesting line combination alongside Carl Hagelin and Kevin Hayes. Read the rest of this entry
Kevin Klein not close to returning; Rangers may be trying to sign Buchnevich and Skjei
Bobby Bevilacqua
Unfortunately, Kevin Klein is not close to returning to the Rangers lineup, and could be out for a total of six weeks with a broken arm. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
Following the Rangers 5-2 home loss to the Washington Capitals, fans received some more bad news when it was discovered that Kevin Klein would not be making the trip to Winnipeg and Minnesota. At first, Klein was expected to miss three to four weeks, but according to Vigneault, Klein is two weeks into what will be a four to six week injury. Klein broke his arm blocking an Alex Ovechkin shot late in a 3-1 Rangers win in D.C.
This is troubling news for a Rangers squad that has struggled defensively lately, giving up four or more goals in three of the last four games. Matt Hunwick has done a serviceable job filling in, but having the always steady Kevin Klein back in the lineup would certainly help solidify the back end.
Losing Klein also left the Rangers missing a natural righty, forcing Vigneault to shift guys like Keith Yandle, Ryan McDonagh, and Matt Hunwick to the right side, creating some unorthodox defensive pairings that haven’t worked tremendously well. Read the rest of this entry
The Return of the King; Henrik Lundqvist set to return tomorrow against Bruins
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers will get a huge boost to their lineup tomorrow afternoon, as Henrik Lundqvist will be between the pipes for the first time since his vascular injury. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
For the first time since February 2nd, a 6-3 win over the Florida Panthers, Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers longtime franchise goalie, will be the starting goalie when New York takes on the struggling Boston Bruins, a team fighting for their playoff lives.
While there was no official announcement, Lundqvist tweeted “Almost 2 months. It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions but happy to finally be back. Let’s get it going, step by step.” He also followed that up with a picture of the mask he designed with Jeff Gordon on “The Mask.” These helmets are all game worn before being auctioned off for charity, so that practilly confirmed his return. An official announcement of the goalie will be made at 11:00 AM tomorrow.
On January 31st, Henrik Lundqvist took a puck to the throat in a freak accident, causing him to go down writhing in pain. He finished that game, allowing one goal, and started the next one as well, picking up a win against the Panthers. Read the rest of this entry
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