New York Rangers

[littleranger]

Thanks, that's what I heard too. Thought maybe you might know something different

Oh I forgot to mention...
During the last game they showed Prospal practicing and he was going pretty hard...good to see but I'm still not optimistic. To get his bonus he has to play 10+ games I think so he should be good in 3-4 weeks.

[littleranger]

From Zipay at Newsday...
Grachev. Del Zotto, Newbury recalled by Rangers

The Del Zotto call up must mean that Girardi isn't quite ready yet. Grach probably just an emergency callup...I believe Callahan is ready...but I wouldnt doubt missing 1-2 more games seeing as the team is finding a way to win nightly (no need to force it).

[littleranger]

Gross/Zipay
Christensen, Dubinsky and Prospal on ice in non-contact jerseys.

So for anyone hoping Prospal would be back for tomorrows game...

Like I said earlier, just a roster move; hopefully back on IR soon...

[littleranger]

Oh and Practice lines today...

Wolski-Stepan-Callahan, Avery-Anisimov-Gaborik, Zuccarello-Boyle-Prust, Grachev-Newbury-Drury

I like what Torts is doing here. With Zooks playing with Boyle and Prust he'll have a scapegoat when/if Boyle stops scoring than Zuccarellos #s will decline substantially for when Prospal/Christensen/Fedotenko are back.

[littleranger]

WOOPS

Contrary to prior reports today...

Rangers beat writer Gross: Have been told Christensen, Dubinsky and Prospal are NOT in non-contact jerseys. Rangers just didn't have enough jerseys to go around.

[littleranger]

For anyone interested off the Rangers twitter...

Ryan Callahan and Dan Girardi both confirm that they will return to the lineup tomorrow vs. Penguins.

Prospal is targeting Thursday!

[littleranger]

Feb 1: Penguins(31-15-4) @ Rangers (29-20-3)
7:30PM est
VS./TSN2

Headline: 2 Goalies coming off All-Star January's and Injuries are of focus.

By the Numbers:
http://www.dobberhockey.com/frozenpo...02-01&team=NYR


H2H #s
The Rangers are up 2-1 in the season series. Crosby/Malkin combined for 5 pts over the 3 games.

Rangers Injury Report:

Dubinsky says x-rays on his leg this morning were "clean"...he says "no pain...we'll see. I felt good when I woke up this morning and I felt good after skating...we'll see later if I'm in.''
Staal left practice early yesterday with a bruise on his right foot but will play tonight.
Callahan will return tonight after missing 19 games with a broken left hand (Rangers went 10-7-2). Pending Dubi's return it looks like he'll slot in with Wolski and Stepan.
All signs point to a return for Prospal on Thursday. Grachev/Newbury look to be the two coming out for Dubi/Vinny
Christensen has a date in mind in which he would like to return but he chose not to make it public. Must expect either Avery,Anisimov,Zuccarello,Drury to come out for him.

Rangers Lines:
Sean Avery-Artem Anisimov-Marian Gaborik
Wojtek Wolski-Derek Stepan-Ryan Callahan
Mats Zuccarello-Brian Boyle-Brandon Prust
Evgeny Grachev-Kris Newbury-Chris Drury

The Starter:
Lundqvist to start. Henrik Lundqvist was 5-4-1 in January but posted his best monthly stats of the season. He had a 1.97 GAA and .934 save % with 2 shutouts.
----------------------------------

Penguins Injury Report:
Crosby will miss his 10th straight game due to a concussion. He has been cleared for off-ice workouts. Pens are 5-3-1 without Sid.
Malkin will miss his 4th straight with a knee injury and a sinus infection. Pens are 2-1-0 without Evgeni.
Letestu left practice early and needed assistance off the ice. He may miss tonights game which will force the Pens to roll 7D.

Lines:
Kunitz-Dupuis-Letestu
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Connor-Rupp-Talbot
Jeffrey-Adams-Asham

Starter:
Marc-Andre Fleury left the ice first. Seems likely he'll start tonight. Fleury has 5 straight wins before the break allowing 7 goals in that span and never allowing more than 2 goals. He had one shutout during that streak.

--------------------------------------------

Obviously the game is on TSN2 and its the only channel I do not get with the Centre Ice package.

[littleranger]

Steve Zipay reports Del Zotto will play tonight and Eminger will be a healthy scratch. Seems like the Rangers are going to try to get the powerplay going against a banged up Pens squad. Dubinsky also back!

[littleranger]

With the addition of Dubinsky here are the new lines for tonight!

Forwards:
Dubinsky-Anisimov-Gaborik, Zuccarello-Stepan-Callahan, Wolski-Boyle-Prust, Avery-Newbury-Drury
Defence:
Staal-Girardi, McDonagh-Sauer, Del Zotto-Gilroy

Unreal.

[littleranger]

Marc Staal will keep the "A" on his jersey despite the return of Vinny Prospal. Torts praises Vinny's demeanour on and off the ice...great work ethic and has played 74+ games in every season since 1997!

Callahan and Dubinsky sat out of practice today as a 'maintanance day'. Both are recovering after taking hits yesterday.

Fedotenko had an appendectomy which will keep him out another 3-4 weeks.

Classic Torts: refers to shootouts as "a skills competition"

I'll update the lines tomorrow with Dubinsky/Callahan in the lineup. But as of now it looks like Vinny will be playing with Gaborik and Anisimov. A note on Anisimov is that he was trusted in the overtime playing with Gaborik...great news for Arty owners.

[littleranger]

Confirmed from just about every hockey source that Vinny Prospal WILL return tonight!

Will have lines from practice later today. Told Stepan will be centering the line with Prospal and Gaborik.

[horrorfan]

Does that mean Zucarello's ice time will be dramatically cut now?

[littleranger]

Does that mean Zucarello's ice time will be dramatically cut now?

You have got to think so. Zuccs still played 17:46 last game with the addition of Dubinsky and Callahan which to me is very surprising. Torts picks his favourites and likes to play his top men tonnes of minutes. He is trying to get Gaborik going and it is no secret that Torts is a BIG BIG fan of Prospal. I could see Prospal playing 16-18 minutes tonight and Zuccarello playing 15-17 minutes tonight. But if they can get ANY production from Prospal/Gaborik tonight then Vinny will be chewing up 19+ minutes a night old/injured or not.

It'll be difficult to kick him off the PP or even to cut his ice time with his production but you have got to think Torts is going to go with his favourites. The odds are stacked against the Norwegian Hobbit.

[horrorfan]

Thanks littleranger.

[Instant Karma]

... He is trying to get Gaborik going and it is no secret that Torts is a BIG BIG fan of Prospal...

Hey Ranger, what's your opinion of what's going on right now with Gaborik? He get's benched and comes back the next night with guns blazing. Is it all just mental?