Blue Notes

Bring out the old (Kevin Weekes) and ring in the new (Ryan Callahan) against the Sabres.

OK, Weekes isn't exactly a creaky senior citizen, but certainly older than Henrik Lundqvist, who will apparently get a breather before the late-afternoon Sunday tilt against the Islanders. And Callahan, 21, a Rochester native called up from Hartford earlier this week, presumably will see his first NHL action rather than Thomas Pock, the underused defenseman who was a forward in college.

Callahan's debut comes as a result of Jason Ward's reinjured ankle, which makes him doubtful for tonight.

The Ward issue caused a ripple effect. Adam Hall, who scored twice from in front on the the power-play against the Thrashers, moved to the right side of the Matt Cullen-Brendan Shanahan line in practice (and where he played a bit against the Thrashers.

If the rest of the scenario holds, Petr Prucha would slide down and join to the Blair Betts-Marcel Hossa tandem.

The 5-10 Callahan, who was 15-6-21 in 19 AHL games, would be on the right of Ryan Hollweg and Colton Orr. Unfortunately, that fourth line probably won't get more than a few shifts.

What's not to like about a little tweaking?

Of course, I'd have gone a step further and played Pock on D to give Ozolinsh a rest. But it should make for some intriguing viewing on MSG2 at 8 p.m. tomorrah. That is, for those of you who won't be joining yours truly and the travelling press corps in Buffalo....

I'll be ready for the City of Ice and Spice (the wings, of course). With Newsday's Adam Ronis backing me up at practice today and filing a piece for the paper, I left early to get a flu shot. My first ever.

Let's hope my left wing doesn't swell or it'll have some ice on it---regardless of the weather.

Nonetheless, please circle back here tomorrow afternoon for a report on the game-day skate at HSBC. The right arm's fine.

"If you asked him to play goal, he'd go out there...."

That was Tom Renney, speaking after practice in the players' lounge, about Marty Straka's professionaliism, desire.
and versatility.

After last season's vanquishing by the Devils in the playoffs, Straka said he wasn't sure about returning to the NHL. If he did, it would be on a one-year basis, he said. His off-season signing for $3 million was a little overlooked in the tumult of free-agent news.

Well, in his 14th season, the Rangers are reaping the rewards of this unassuming, world-class athlete.

Straka, who turned 34 in September, accepted the "A" for his sweater and has led by example. Daily. Not weekly.

With his goal against the Thrashers, he extended his point streak to five games (five goals, three assists). The goal was Straka's 14th of the season---two more than Czech pal Jaromir Jagr!

Straka is almost certain to surpass his mark of 22 last year. And don't forget his 13 assists

Can you spell bargain? But don't expect him in goal.

Newsday's Adam Ronis has more on Marty in tomorrow's paper.

As for practice, we can report that the coaches tested the mettle of the lads (except for Jagr, who was excused) with stop-watch timed conditioning drills, "gassers", in which players busted it hard from goal line to blue line; then red line; then far blue line.

Jed Ortmeyer sat out with the flu.

He won't play tonight, but Ryan Callahan, who has scored 15 goals for the Wolf Pack, is up for a quick look. Callahan, a 5-foot-10 right wing, who was raised in Rochester, also had six assists in 19 games and was a plus-3....

The lineup remains the same as the last few games....Pock, Kasparaitis sitting.

Thrashers have injuries on the backline; watch for the Rangers to try to force the play in the offensive zone and make the defense handle the puck.

More from the Garden...

Beyond the theological issues, there's really one crucial question in life: What to do next?

For the Rangers' brain trust, it's all a matter of timing. They're in first place in the Atlantic Division by a whisker, but it's alarmingly like a mirage in the desert. If not for Henrik's revival.....

Among the decisions that need to be made before long:

1. Should Sandis Ozolinsh get a breather? He's played in 15 straight games, plenty for a guy who's got a lot going on. He's trying to supress his career-long inclination for offense. He's only a few months removed from a slide back into the substance-abuse program. At 34, after numerous operations, his knees aren't in the best of shape. Remember: he only played 19 regular-season games with the Rangers last season, and 16 with Anaheim.
In 03-04, he played 36 games with Anaheim. His game is slipping a bit. We advocated this before: Give Thomas Pock a few games.

2. The No. 1 line and Brendan Shanahan score two-thirds of the Rangers goals.
How to correct the imbalance?
Matt Cullen, the second-line center, has 11 points. Petr Prucha is struggling. Adam Hall had a very nice camp but hasn't scored in 19 games. Colton Orr can't play against speedier teams like the Sabres.
Jed Ortmeyer, nice comeback story notwithstanding, is not the answer. He might push Orr to the bench when he comes back from a yet-to-be-determined conditioning stint in Hartford, but isn't a scorer.
Which leaves the other three, all of whom could use PP time. Cullen may need one goal---like the one the ref missed in Pittsburgh Saturday---to break the ice. The effort is there.
If Cullen were shifted to the No. 3 line, where he is best suited, who's No. 2? The cupboard is kinda bare without a trade. Jarkko Immonen? Probably a 3. Nigel Dawes and Lauri Korpikoski? Wingers.
Prucha and Hall are knotty issues. But they need to put the puck in the net soon. I wouldn't be shocked if one were traded---not for a defenseman as rumored---but packaged with a prospect or pick for a playmaking center.
Because coach Tom Renney likes the current synergy---and because there may not be much out there with all but Columbus, Phoenix, Chicago and Philly bunched closely for playoff slots---don't expect anything drastic in the next week or so. With today's coaching change in Chicago, though, there might be a roster shake-up looming. Too bad they're not very experienced in the pivot.
Potential---but not ideal age-wise---options at the trade deadline: Sergei Federov (Columbus); Robert Lang (Detroit), Doug Weight (St. Louis), Jozef Stumpel (Boston).
In the meantime, I'd make the investment: bring Dawes back and just play him on the third line with Betts and Ward and let him grow for 8 to 10 minutes a game.

3. Darius Kasparaitis. How long can the Rangers afford to waste the cap space? It's costing the team close to $40,000 a game to have Kaspar watch from the stands. Play him or waive him.

4. When to play Weekes? My guess: Either home against Florida or away in Ottawa in the back-to-back next weekend.

Love to hear your thoughts, pithy comments, musings on these and any other issues....I'll report from the pre-game skate tomorrow

Apologies for the cheesy headline, but it does make sense in one way:

In their third meeting of this still-young season with the high-flying Sabres, the Rangers come into tonight's game positioned to make a statement.

They've won three in a row and are playing without question their most solid hockey of the season. Henrik Lundqvist is back to himself, having allowed just seven goals in his last five games.

Unlike their first meeting of the season, when the Rangers came in playing sloppy and got their doors blown off in Buffalo, and their second meeting in which the Rangers came in playing fairly well but blew a two-goal lead at home in a 4-3 overtime loss, the Rangers are playing as close to the style of defense-first hockey that made them one of the league's best teams for a time last year as they have all year.

Lundqvist is back in goal tonight, as Tom Renney rides his 24-year-old starter during his recent hot streak.

Renney said he's not worried about wearing Lundqvist by playing him on back-to-back nights.

"He's certainly in a good frame of mind. Athletically he's good, physiologically he's fine," Renney said.

"I'm not going to tell you he's Marty Brodeur and he can just go forever. I do believe you need two goalies in this league. . . The fact of the matter is we can't wait to too long to get [backup Kevin Weekes] back in."

Sorry for the delay, technical difficulties,

Greetings from the Burgh, and no, during the morning skate, Rangers coach Tom Renney didn't set up speakers to simulate the booing that rang through this old place and irritated Jaromir Jagr last Saturday.

In fact, Renney and players seemed upbeat and loose after the workout that included deflection and face- off drills

After the game-day skate here last Saturday, Renney felt a little queasy about the readiness of his team. "I wasn't unhappy, just uncertain," he said.

Eight or so hours later, his club committed 12 penalties and the Penguins scored twice during 5-on-3s en route to a 3-1 win that left more than Renney's stomach upset..

After today's morning skate, Renney declared: "I feel much better than then. We had more energy, I liked the way we worked on some things."

Renney cautioned not to read too much into that change. "You can still come out later and lose two points," he said. "Sometimes you look great and come out flat."

But the coach had at least four other reasons to be optimistic.

Since the loss a week ago, the Rangers had dispatched both Tampa Bay and Carolina---the last two Stanley Cup champions---by 4-1 and 4-0 scores at Madison Square Garden to climb into a tie for first place in the Atlantic Division.

Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, 5-2 in his last seven starts---lowering his GAA to 2.92---was between the pipes last night.

Jagr appears to have shrugged off the booing that nagged him in his lackluster last game here to score three goals against the Lightning and Hurricanes. Jagr has 602 career goals and 1,466 points. With another point, he would tie Stan Mikita for 12th on the all-time list. He had a goal and two assists in the first game against the Penguins at MSG on Oct. 12 this season.

And the Penguins were missing Sidney Crosby, who sat out his third consecutive game with a groin strain. "I'm still a little sore...It's not ready," Crosby said after testing the injury in practice. "I'm a lot closer than I was three or four days ago." Without the stellar sophomore center, who is 10-20-30 in 19 games, the Penguins lost 3-1 to the Islanders on Friday and 4-3 in a shootout to the Bruins on Wednesday.

(Crosby--in suit and tie---just passed us in the press box, so Renney, who wasn't sold that Crosby would play, can rest easier)

****
Rangers forward Jed Ortmeyer, out since August with pulmonary embolism, was cleared for contact after completing a week of non-contact practice. But Renney said at some point, he would be sent to Hartford to play games before getting the gree light to dress at MSG....Darius Kasparaitis and Thomas Pock were healthy scratches again.

*****
Russian rookie center Evgeni Malkin, who scored in each of those two games and has 11 goals, left the Islanders game with four minutes to play after he appeared to injure his shoulder on a check from Brendan Witt. But coach Michel Therrien said Malkin was fine. "He's trying to be a leader out there," said Crosby.

With injuries, Therrien said, "you've got to give different guys different roles that sometimes they're not used to...Maxime Talbot, he's supposed to be a fourth-line center, right now he's playing left wing on the second line. We've only had Malkin and Crosby [together] for 15 of our games. We all understand that they're a big part of our team. Minnesota lost some key players and lost four games in a row. We're not different. But I know my team's gonna come out and play hard against the Rangers."

Penguins rookie center Jordan Staal, who opened each of the two previous games against the Rangers with a goal (the first shorthanded and the other on a power play) was to be used throughout the lineup by Therrien.

"Eventually he'll be a better player." Therrien said of Staal, whose brother, Marc. is the Rangers top defense prospect. "He'll start on the fourth line, and it depends on how the game goes. We like to spot him on the second line, penalty-kill, we like to get him on the power play. But we don't want to give him the responsibility to be a second-line guy, we tried that and his game went down a little bit. It's too much to handle for an 18-year-old. You pick your spots, we want him to learn."

Brendan Shanahan, who has 17 goals this season, has a goal in each of the two games against Pittsburgh.... Marc-Andre Fleury (10-5-2, 2.82 GAA) was in goal for Pittsburgh....The Rangers had won two in a row; the Penguins had lost two of three....RW Jason Ward, who suffered a slight ankle sprain against Carolina, was close to 100 percent.

More later, coffee time

That's a title of a lovely Fairport Convention song and certainly appropriate as the holidays approach...

Nothing profound today, just taking a break to breathe deep, slow down the tempo and appreciate this uncertain life.

Having said that, on this Thanksgiving Eve, we appreciate you reading, not only this endeavor, but the blogs and stories of the other New York-based hockey writers out here.

Most are thoughtful, funny journalists with a healthy streak of skepticism who provide you with some of the finest and diverse coverage of NHL hockey (Rangers, Islanders and Devils) in the U.S.---much of the time against tough deadlines and shrinking news space.

OK. Anthony Reiber filled in for me at practice today; look for his story on Marcel Hossa in the paper tomorrow

Enjoy tomorrow around the table and the hearth with family and friends (and probably the NFL), and please set aside a moment for those who've moved on....

Cheers...

Former Islander and Bruin Brad Isbister, 29, comes to the Blueshirts from the Hurricanes for Jakub Petruzalek and a conditional fifth- round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-4 Isbister will report to the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Isbister appeared in nine games with the Albany River Rats of the AHL this season, recording three goals and five assists for eight points, along with 54 penalty minutes. He has 99 goals and 107 assists for 206 points, along with 563 penalty minutes, for four NHL teams.

Last season, the Calgary native skated 58 games with the Bruins, collecting six goals and 17 assists, along with 46 penalty minutes. Wiith the Islanders in 1999-00, he scored a career high 22 goals, nine power play goals and 42 points in 64 games.

Petruzalek, 21, split 13 games with the Wolf Pack and Charlotte Checkers this season, notchng one goal and 11 assists.

On first glance, Isbister---kind of an underachiever---could help, especially since no one crucual to the season was lost in the process

PRACTICE UPDATE:

Henrik Lundqvist will be between the pipes tonight, aiming for his second consecutive win at MSG....Colton Orr will play after sitting against Tampa in favor of new swingman Thomas Pock. Otherwise, the lineup is the same and Renney didn't expect any changes on the power-play units....Pock, Kaspar scratched again.

In a major upswing in his rollercoaster battle with pulmonary embolism, forward Jed Ortmeyer practiced with the Rangers for the first time this season after a vascular specialist allowed him to stop taking blood thinnners.
Just two weeks ago, doctors thought they had discovered another blood clot in his leg, which could have potentially ended his career.
He was told to avoid any physical activity and was crushed by the setback.
"Here I was, thinking there was light at then end of the tunnel....I was devastated," said Ortmeyer, winded and sitting at his locker, still wearing a yellow (non-contact) No. 47 jersey after practice and 30-plus mnutes of conditioning drills with Thomas Pock and Darius Kasparaitis.
But then after an MRI, the specialist gave him the results last night. " It was just some scarring," he said. "And I got the green light. I was so excited to be back on the ice, joking with teammates, shooting at goalies and passing to someone else than the coaches. It was awesome."
Ortmeyer, a key piece of the HMO line last season, will continue to practice without contact for a week and then gradually take some hits.
Coach Tom Renney couldn't set a timetable for Ortmeyer's eventual return, but was encouraged by the progress. "He's a good, smart two-way player who's another year older. When he's healthy he gives us another weapon...that will force us to make decisions that will impact other individuals. But it's too soon right now."
More from my conversation with Ortmeyer later....

A good move by Major Tom (Renney) giving the troops a day off today.

Regrouping before facing the Hurricanes Tuesday, just three games after a 2-1 loss in Raleigh, should pay off if the lads can summon up the energy and emotion that they displayed against the Lightning at MSG.

We've occasionally slammed Renney for his personnel decisions in this space, so kudos for shaking the rust off Thomas Pock (finally). Even skating for a few minutes, and drawing a penalty that led to Shanahan's power-play goal, was worth it. He'll come hard every night, and even though he played forward, it could send a flare over the other defensemens' heads.

Well, all but Fedor Tyutin, who has become a must-dress, and good for him. If his development is due to both playing aside Aaron Ward and more film study, give Renney more plus grades.

And credit Major Tom for assembling the checking line of Blair Betts between Marcel Hossa and JWard---a tactic he doesn't normally use---to stifle the Lightining's big strikers: Martin St. Louis and Vinny Lecavalier.

Renney likes to say the team is a work in progress, but in fairness, he's adjusting as well, playing the cards he's been dealt.

The checking line center might be Betts' perfect role, and re-raises the question that several of the numerous respondents have posted: Where is the legit No. 2 center?

No knock on speedy and savvy Matt Cullen---in fact, we'll say it again, give him a shot at the point on the PP--- but he's not really a No. 2 playmaker and doesn't get the puck to Petr Prucha enough.

Anyway, a nice bounce-back (let's not call it another "watershed" game, just yet, OK?). Let's see if the Rangers---backed by a re-emerging Henrik Lundqvist (mentioned here a few days ago)---can carry the water one more time before heading back to the Burgh for the Saturday night rematch.

Oh and Jags, we've really come to respect your athleticism, dedication, leadership, thoughtfulness---and wackiness---and growing ease with the media, but the booing in the Igloo really bothered you Saturday?

Or was it just a night where the spirit and flesh were weak? Hey, it happens over 82 games and the amazing career stats show that you recover...Why not just admit the lapse after the game and don't duck the three New York writers who had to button-hole you in the hallway and come away with nothing useful? If you're embarrassed, say so. That's what captains do. We'll give you a pass this time.

Jeez, you've scored in bunches there last season and in Washington.

Booing?

Think they'll be any quieter this weekend? Hardly.

Well, fortunately for you fans, I have a few minutes to hang out and update the blog before my train pulls out of Penn Station.

Pretty encouraging performance tonight, huh?

Tonight's performance sort of erases a lot of the negativity brought on by an absolutely pitiful effort in Pittsburgh on Saturday.

So much to write about -- and I only have about 10 minutes before I have to pack up!

We had a nice chuckle in the press box over John Tortorella's ejection. Not that we were picking on the Ligthning coach -- but just because you could sort of understand his frustration and you could almost see his anger reaching the boiling point.

His team wasn't playing well, the Rangers had an ostensibly questionable goal allowed and the Lightning had another goal that could have gone either way disallowed.

I'm just surprised he didn't reach for the stick rack and start throwing things onto the ice. Just wasn't his (or the Lightning's night).

Congrats are in order to Jaromir Jagr, who should eclipse 700 before his career is done and has a reasonable chance at 750. That would place him third on the all-time goals list, behind only Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe, in case you were wondering. Not bad, huh?

It was also nice to see Henrik Lundqvist playing really well at home. Tonight's game may have been his best of the season. He was sharp when he had to be, controlled rebounds and made a couple of borderline-spectacular stops. (His best being a kick save on Martin St. Louis in the third period.)

I also wanted to mention how impressed I was by the performance of the Rangers' newly-created checking line: Blair Betts, Jason Ward and Marcel Hossa. The trio played most of the night against the Vincent Lecavalier-Martin St. Louis line, and held the duo to seven shots and no points.

Well, it's time to pack up and get out of here. I'm pretty sure I will be seeing you again next Sunday. Until then, Happy Blueshirting.

Hello all,

Mike Casey filling in for Steve Zipay again. This will be a fairly regular Sunday occurence, as Steve likes to enjoy a little family time on Sunday afternoons whenever the Rangers are at home. That means more opportunities for me to cover hockey, which is something I always look forward to.

So the 'big' news tonight is that Thomas Pock is finally back in the lineup -- but not as a defenseman. Just a short while ago in the locker room, Tom Renney informed the media that Pock will dress for the first time in 16 games, but he will skate on the fourth line as a forward, replacing Colton Orr.

Pock played forward at the University of Massachusetts before converting to defense, so he has some experience in that role.

Renney stressed that he still thinks of Pock as a defenseman, but wanted to see him get some time at forward.

"I'd like to see him use his speed," Renney said. "Because he's relatively familiar with the forward position, I think he understands what a forecheck looks like. I think he knows how to go to the net. He can shoot the puck, he can pass the puck."

Renney also said that getting Pock into a game as a forward is a good way to ease him into the Rangers' system.

"If there are errors to be made by a young player, better [to make mistakes] at the front end where they're somewhat camouflaged and you can recover from them as opposed to the back end."

Makes sense. It was starting to look like the Rangers had forgotten about Thomas. Let's see how (or if) he impacts tonight's game.

One other interesting storyline to tonight's game is the Rangers' suddenly sputtering attack. Brendan Shanahan and Jaromir Jagr have been the sum total of the Rangers' offense, scoring all four Blueshirts goals in the last three games.

It's time to put out an APB for Michael Nylander, Martin Straka, Petr Prucha, Matt Cullen, and Adam Hall. Each has been invisible or close to it the last few games.

Also keep in mind that Jaromir Jagr is one away from 600 goals. If he scores tonight, it'll overshadow a lot of other storylines. Hopefully one of those won't be a continued lack of offense.

Marriott City Center Hotel, Pittsburgh. Sunday, 2:37 AM.

Jolted awake by a fire alarm and a pounding on the door.

Quickly dress, grab briefcase, slowly herded down 15 floors with other bleary-eyed folks.
Lobby is jammed with guests, including some players on the UMass basketball team, kids in pajamas. several firemen, who all assume that some village idiot, after too much libation at the Steelhead Grill, banged an alarm.

After 10 minutes, desk clerk confirms: the idiot was on the 14th floor.

Wait ten minutes by non-working elevators.
Cursing silently and breathing heavily, I make the 15-floor trek at 3 AM, stopping once at 9.

In no shape for Everest, that's for sure.

While lying around, trying to return to sleep, enter a hallucinatory dream-state, including a segment with someone opening an envelope with an old photo of me as the stamp. The rest was a jumble,

Sidenote: If you're in Pittsburgh or environs, tune into 105.9 FM, the X. On Sunday morning nthey were playing two-fers: Marley, Elvis Costello, Sting/Police. Also the home of Penguins broadcasts. Not bad at all.

Need to do some Thanksgiving dinner logistics, so Mike Casey is covering for me tonight at the Garden.

I'll be back for Tuesday's game against the Canes and in the Burgh next weekend for the Rangers-Pens rematch. Hopefully, the Rangers will have rediscovered their power play by then and have some new faces in the lineup.

And maybe my room will be on a lower floor.

Siitting here watching the warmups throuh a fog that may be a result of a skybox dry-ice machine gone amok, and it looks like Adam Hall, who awoke with a sore back, is fine and will dress. Head coach Tom Renney had dressed Thomas Pock for warmups as a spare forward...

Henrik Lundqvist will start, as expected, and might even play against Tampa tomorrow

But the top story of the night revolves around Jagr, who was in the starting lineup.

In an ideal world, his 600th goal would come in this city, where he won two Stanley Cup championships, where he played with an idol, Mario Lemieux, and where the fans still remember his offensive magic as a Penguin: 439 goals and 640 assists in 11 seasons.

Reaching the milestone against the team that drafted him, the 34-year-old Czech superstar would join a select roster of 15 other players, including teammate Brendan Shanahan, who scored his 600th and 601st on opening night against the Capitals.

"I'm honored to be coaching a team with guys like that. I haven't really thought much about it except when you guys started asking," said head coach Tom Renney. "I look at getting two points as an absolute key. But yeah, it would be nice."

For Jagr, just scoring anywhere takes precedence.

Still recovering from the off-season surgery on his left shoulder, which he dislocated in Game 1 of the first playoff round against the Devils, Jagr has eight goals and 21 assists this season, far off his pace of last year, when he scored 54 and won his third Lester Pearson Award as the league's most outstanding player---as voted by NHL players.

The 600th tally would be the 77th goal as a Ranger for Jagr, who came to New York in exchange for Anson Carter in January 2004.

For Jagr, last year ended in pain and disappointment, and he spent the summer unable to work out strenuously following the operation. In training camp, he favored his shoulder and wondered how long it would take him to be fully healed. He said recently that he felt he was finally rounding into form.

On Oct. 5, before the Rangers' season-opener against Washington, he was introduced as the 24th captain of the franchise. As if to declare himself ready, Jagr scored at the 29-second mark. Remember the response at MSG?

A week later, in his first game against the Penguins this season, Jagr scored a goal and added two assists a 6-5 loss at Madison Square Garden. He was 7-4-11 in eight games against the Penguins last year and has 12 goals and 12 assists in 21 career games against Pittsburgh, including a hat trick here last Nov. 12.

Jagr, who seemed hesitant to shoot in the first few weeks, is finding the net more frequently, scoring twice against the Devils in 26 seconds on Tuesday and remains second in career goals among active players behind Shanahan, who has 612.

In his career, Jagr has scored 282 goals on the road, 314 at home and three on neutral sites. If you're counting at home. his first, his 100th, 200th, 300th and 400th goals came as a Penguin; his 500th came on Feb. 4, 2003 as a Capital.

"I never had [scoring 600] as a goal," Jagr said the other day. "But now I'm so close..."


Other flotsam and jetsam:

Hall scored one of his two goals this season against the Penguins on Oct. 12...

Pock, 24, is the team's only spare forward and has been kept on the roster despite being scratched for 14 of the first 19 games. But Renney appreciates his speed, shot and ability to play both positions...

As for D Darius Kasparaitis, scratched for the fifth consecutive game since returning from a two-week conditioning stint in Hartford, Renney said: "His fitness level's getting better. He's a competitor. He's fighting for his life. That's tough in a team sport. When he gets in there, he might stay for the rest of the season."...Editorial comment: Hmmm.

Sidney Crosby had both Penguins goals in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Sabres---their sixth in seven games. The second-year center is 9-17-26 and has three goals in the last two games....Marc-Andre Fleury (8-5-1, 2.94 GAA) and Henrik Lundqvist (8-6-0, 3.26 GAA) were the netminders last night...Last year, the Rangers were 2-1-1 here at Mellon Arena; Lundqvist lost 4-3 in overtime and won 4-2...The Pens were 4-4-1 at home; the Rangers 7-4 on the road...Former Ranger Dominic Moore is 3-3-6, and minus-1.

More later....

Post-game musings from the empty Igloo.

You'd think the Rangers would have learned by now, 20 games into the season.

Time to sit some laggards. Ozo needs a breather. So do Hall and Orr. How about Kaspar on D and Pock up front and somebody from Hartford who will come to play every night?

A dozen penalties, many just dumb and dumber, and a 3-1 loss to a team that played the night before.

You know that new Penguin animated movie called "Happy Feet"?

The Rangers had unhappy feet and few smarts. Two delay-of-game penalties; one for too many men on the ice.
A bewilderingly no-shot offense that is official in a drought with six goals in four games and three came in 90 seconds against the Devils.

Jagr's poinless line seemed disinterested. The one glimmer of light: Fedor Tyutin has really stepped up his game.

But listen for yourself. These are post-game locker room quotes.

"We didn't get any shots off the rush to speak of, we didn't drive the net, which is so fundamental to the game," said Rangers coach Tom Renney, who suggested he might make some lineup changes tonight when Tampa Bay visits the Garden. "We have a tendency to want to make (passes) into the net. It's so fundamental, it's scary. I can't camouflage this effort by suggesting that the power play let us down. We let ourselves down from top to bottom."

"We shot ourselves in the foot," said Shanahan, bemoaning the 12 Rangers penalties. "The will was there, but execution wasn't. Everything they got tonight, we gave them. The power play gets their good players into the game without them working that hard. Consistently throughout the game we just kept taking penalties. There were moments when you thought we were gonna build something and we were back in the box."

The penalty-killers stopped nine of eleven power plays, but Shanahan said "our power play (0-for-6) wasn't very good either." No kidding.

"It's frustrating," said Lundqvist, who finished with 22 saves. "A couple of penalties pretty much made the difference. It's very tough defending the 5-on-3."

The Rangers launched 13 of their 24 shots in the third period, as the N. 1 Jagr-Michael Nylander-Martin Straka line wasn't very effective, with only two shots in the first period and eight overall. "Average", according to Renney. "They had a lot of power plays," explained Jagr, "The consistency's not there."

Duh.

O all of you whose intellects are sound,
look now and see the meaning that is hidden
beneath the veil that covers my strange verses

and then, above the filthy swell, approaching,
a blast of sound, shot through with fear, exploded,
making both shores of Hell begin to tremble;

it sounded like one of those violent winds,
born from the clash of counter-temperatures,
that tear through forests, raging on unchecked,

it splits and rips and carries off the branches
and proudly whips the dust up in its path
and makes the beasts and shepherds flee its course...

Dante
The Divine Comedy: Inferno
Canto IX


5:40 AM. A rainy, wind-swept, lightning-lit, white-knuckled drive from the Marriott Crabtree Valley to Raleigh-Durham Airport as the twisters gathered strength somewhere in the state. Yeah, it's a glamorous life, this sportswriting gig.

Never thought the airport would be open and in fact, the airline folks were sure that the place would be shut down later. Somehow, American Flight 4727 to LaGuardia did leave during a break in the weather.

Turns out at least eight people died in the fury in North Carolina today.
Tonight, with a glass of Twenty Bench, a California cab, we toast fate and good fortune this evening at home.
I could use a pail full.

The weather has been kind to the diminished band of Rangers' traveling writers so far this season, but Ottawa and Buffalo await like thieves in the night. I sense the inevitable snow.

But as you will see in tomorrow's editions of Newsday, the outlook is brighter for the second half---for both the team and soon-to-be-wearier scribes (who spend about equal time talking hockey on the road and discussing the culinary offerings at various media dining rooms in the arenas; FYI, the pulled pork in Carolina was awesome. Joe Micheletti said he gained 15 pounds during the Finals last spring.)

In any case, the mission (if you choose to accept it), is to survive the next five weeks with your sanity and peptic ulcers in remission.

Only seven of the 42 Rangers games in the second half, starting in January, require flights longer than a shuttle. And have faith that the Broadway guys will fare better at home.

The Rangers have 19 of the 42 games against Atlantic Division foes, so no matter the hole they dig or the lead they have, playoff berths will be decided then. And who knows, with injuries, waivers or trades, Dawes, Immonen and/or Dubinsky may be up here.

We are barely at the quarter-pole, readers, hang in, it's a long season.

Maybe not as long or chilling as the drive down 70 and 540 to the Raleigh-Durham airport, but...

Please stay tuned right here for news tomorow and a live report from Pittsburgh on Saturday

After an hour-35 minute plane ride, emerged in Raleigh still stunned by the 90-second lightning that struck last night at MSG...whether it's a turning point or watershed, as coach Tom Renney declared, might be a little hyped...But a significant win nonetheless....

C Matt Cullen and D Aaron Ward play their first game here tonight since fleeing this lovely expanse of cow pastures and Research Triangle firms for New York...Kevin Weekes, another former Cane, will be in the net for the back-to-back...

Team held an optional skate at RBC Center....Jagr skated without equipment before 14 other players---including both goalies---hit the ice....The absentees: Straka, Cullen, Jason Ward, Ozo, Rachunek, Malik and Rozsival. They could all use a little rest...Shanahan left after about 15 minutes as well.... Kaspar and Pock stayed afterward for drills and will be healthy scratches again...

More from the rink later...

A day after beng recalled from Hartford, defenseman Darius Kasparaitis will watch the Rangers-Devils game in street clothes, along with Thomas Pock.

Coach Tom Renney said he wants to see the results of conditioning drills that Kasparaitis underwent after yesterday's game-day skate.

My sense of things? Kaspar won't see much ice time unless someone is banged up, and even then, I wouldn't be surprised if Pock gets the call. Kaspar could also be re-assigned---if he agrees---to Hartford for more "conditioning" at some point, or waived outright to free up the $2.4 million remaining on his salary this season and the $2.9 he's due next year. Question is, who wants him at that price? The Flyers apparently inquired but are interested only at half the cost. Not exactly sure why the rebuilding Flyers would take on any money.

As expected, Henrik Lundqvist will start tonight; unclear if Kevin Weekes will play in Carolina tomorrow. Could very well happen.

Said Renney: "I'd love to see a 2-1 game, even though the fans might not want to see that."

I'm not sure about. A "W' at the Garden any way, any how is a big step.

More from MSG later...

As predicted here and elsewhere, Darius is up, Nigel is down, and in a bit of a surprise, Mark Messier will be working the Rangers-Devs game tomorrow for Versus (formerly OLN).

Mess will comment from the booth or studio for Versus for a half-dozen regular-season games and a couple playoff games. We'll see how much he brings in the critic's role...

Newsday's Anthony Rieber (I'm off today) has more from practice in the newspaper....

Yours truly will observe the game-day skate and report from there and at the game at MSG. Check in here tomorrah, OK?

Cheers...

Answer: A late-night stop for a pilsner and Prince Edward Island or Maine oysters at the raw bar at the Old Ebbitt Grille.
Question: What's a fine way to wrap up a four-day road trip in Washington?

The original Ebbitt---founded in 1856---and an occasional haunt of Presidents Grant and Cleveland and Teddy Roosevelt, is gone. This Old Ebbitt, with many of the paintings and artifacts that reflect a Victorian era saloon, is in a Beaux Arts building just a stone's throw from the White House (on 15th Street NW) and one of my go-to spots in Washington.

The melting-pot clientle includes everyone from college students to media types to pols and their staffers to well-dressed, after-theater suburban couples and, of course, some tourists. The XM radio tunes are just loud enough at the raw bar, the TV was silently running college football highlights and, oh yes, Ebbitt's has at least three other bar/dining areas for your lounging and lingering pleasure. Highly recommended.

Didn't get to some other cool spots this time around, but in the interest of anybody going to D.C., I'll mention two other personal faves: Idle Time Books on 18th Street NW and the National Portrait Gallery.

*****
OK, I'll probably never have my portrait hung in a prestigous gallery, except perhaps the First- and Second-Guessers Wing in some archive when newspapers eventually go the way of all flesh. Yet if coach Tom Renney can leave himself open on anything, it's personnel decisions, so I'm rolling up the sleeves again.

Before the Caps game, Renney admitted that he was tired from travelling and watching film that he wasn't sure if he could have played. So he was aware that his players were similarly gassed and that Washington, after a 5-0 loss and a day of rest, would be coming hard.

Sounded like a fine opportunity for fresh legs, i.e., LW Nigel Dawes and/or D Thomas Pock, regardless of what defensive flaws they might have. Speed can sometimes help you recover from mistakes, and prevent some lazy penalties, of which the Rangers had a bucketful of both in the first period on Saturday. Instead, same lineup, with the usual suspects on defense and on the third and fourth lines. Need I remind you of Malik's 360 or Rachunek and Ozo's gaffes?

On offense, maybe it wouldn't have made a difference. But....

Adam Hall, who had 10 power play goals for the Predtors last year, showed me something on the PP, and had an assist. Colton Orr, I guess, was necessary as a foe/fodder for Brashear for a big two-minutes plus. And yeah, Marcel Hossa, who had his best game of the season in Atlanta, deserved to stay in the lineup, I'll grudgingly admit. The result: Zero hits, zero shots on goal. Ugh.

*****
The Rangers had today off and will practice tomorrow to prepare for their pit stop at MSG to host the Devils Tuesday, before journeying to Carolina Wednesday and Pittburgh Saturday. The road record stands at 7-3. At the Garden, 2-4-1 is problematic.

A win at home---the first since they beat the Devils 4-2 a month ago, on Oct. 16---appears pretty crucial because the defending Stanley Cup champ Hurricanes are surging (6-2-2 in the last 10) and the Rangers will visit Raleigh the next night.

More later....have a mellow Sunday

Answer: A late-night stop for a pilsner and Prince Edward Island or Maine oysters at the raw bar at the Old Ebbitt Grille.
Question: What's a fine way to wrap up a four-day road trip in Washington?

The original Ebbitt---founded in 1856---and an occasional haunt of Presidents Grant and Cleveland and Teddy Roosevelt, is gone. This Old Ebbitt, with many of the paintings and artifacts that reflect a Victorian era saloon, is in a Beaux Arts building just a stone's throw from the White House (on 15th Street NW) and one of my go-to spots in Washington. The melting-pot clientle includes everyone from college students to media types to pols and their staffers to well-dressed, after-theater suburban couples and, of course, some tourists. The XM radio tunes are just loud enough at the raw bar and Ebbitt's has at least three other bar/dining areas. Highly recommended.

Didn't get to some other cool spots this time around, but in the interest of anybody going to D.C., I'll mention two other personal faves: Idle Time Books on 18th Street NW and the National Portrait Gallery.

*****
OK, I'll probably never have my portrait hung in a prestigous gallery, except perhaps the First- and Second-Guessers Wing in some archive when newspapers eventually go the way of all flesh. Yet if coach Tom Renney can leave himself open on anything, it's personnel decisions, so I'm rolling up the sleeves again.

Before the Caps game, Renney admitted that he was tired from travelling and watching film that he wasn't sure if he could have played. So he was aware that his players were similarly gassed and that Washington, after a 5-0 loss and a day of rest, would be coming hard.

Sounded like a fine opportunity for fresh legs, i.e., LW Nigel Dawes and/or D Thomas Pock, regardless of what defensive flaws they might have. Speed can sometimes help you recover from mistakes, and prevent some lazy penalties, of which the Rangers had a bucketful of both in the first period on Saturday. Instead, same lineup, with the usual suspects on defense and on the third and fourth lines. Need I remind you of Malik's 360 or Rachunek and Ozo's gaffes?

On offense, maybe it wouldn't have made a difference. But....

Adam Hall, who had 10 power play goals for the Predtors last year, showed me something on the PP, and had an assist. Colton Orr, I guess, was necessary as a foe/fodder for Brashear for a big two-minutes plus. And yeah, Marcel Hossa, who had his best game of the season in Atlanta, deserved to stay in the lineup, I'll grudgingly admit. The result: Zero hits, zero shots on goal. Ugh.

*****
The Rangers had today off and will practice tomorrow to prepare for their pit stop at MSG to host the Devils Tuesday, before journeying to Carolina Wednesday and Pittburgh Saturday. The road record stands at 7-3. At the Garden, 2-4-1 is problematic.

A win at home---the first since they beat the Devils 4-2 a month ago, on Oct. 16---appears pretty crucial because the defending Stanley Cup champ Hurricanes are surging (6-2-2 in the last 10) and the Rangers will visit Raleigh the next night.

More later....have a mellow Sunday

In my haste, I sent wrong info about Darius Kasparaitis' contract status in the last pre-game dispatch
.
Kaspar was NOT waived, just sent to Hartford for conditioning, so his salary remains the same when--and if---he is called back to New York on Monday.

I knew this, just zoned out. Must have been all the fresh air....

Apologies....

We are live here at Verizon (formerly MCI) Center...

Off two consecutive wins in which coach Tom Renney saw noticeable changes in his game, Henrik Lundqvist will
start in the net tonight in the second half of a back-to-back here against the Capitals.

"I thought Henrik again (last night), but wanted to be sure and see where he head was," said Renney, who, after a conversation with the goaltender, felt he was good to go. Asked what he liked about Lundqvist's recent play, Renney said: "His concentration, he's following the puck better, picking it up through traffic, rebounds are at a minimum. He looks bigger in the net, not so compact. "

On Nigel Dawes, scratched agaiin last night, possibly being returned to Hartford: "We'll contemplatie that," Renney said. "We've been doing that for a while. We'll get this one out of the way and discuss those kids tomorrow (Sunday)." Probably the right move to shake off the rust.

If Dawes is remanded to the Wolf Pack, the Rangers would have 22, not 23 spots including Darius Kasparaitis, whose .two-week conditioning stint ends Monday. Said Renney: "We also have to deal with Kaspar."

Have a feeling he will be summoned back, just to see if another team claims him for half his salary, about $1.5 million.

As for filling the one open spot if Dawes is gone, Renney said: "Do you platoon a young guy through to give them the exposure, or do you give the best player down there chance to come up?

One man's opinion: Yes, let's see Brandon Dubinsky on Broadway...

Thin sun, light breeze at your back.
A serene day for strolling from outside the White House to Congress.

Dodged skateboarders gliding on the marble of John J. Pershing Plaza, crunched leaves underfoot on the trails through the lawns, bought an Good Humor toasted almond bar on 15th Street, marvelled at the canyons of noble architecture from the clock tower of the Old Post Office to the stately hotels and hugged the hefty trunk of a tree outside the Department of Commerce which resembled the whomping willow in Harry Potter's travels.

That last gesture was in honor of my wife back in New York, who would save every bleepin' tree on the planet if she could.

I've been in Washington many times, covering Congressional committee hearings, sports events, visiting friends, showing my daughter the Smithsonian.

Whenever I'm here, the sense of military---as well as political history---wraps around me like a mist, and I think about my dad, a Marine, and my uncles and friends who served. And I watched the fathers and young sons on the wide sidewalks and boulevards and the resolute guards around the monuments on this, the day after Veteran's Day.

En route back to the hotel, past a small park with a Bald Eagle sculpture on a pedestal and an inscription about freedom, I overhear a conversation between two women. "My mom's so scared of everything these days," one says. "She's afraid to leave Carbondale."

Nonsense. Someone should bring her here, on an autumn afternoon, to America's Main Street, an avenue of hope and majesty and sadness and dreams.

Greetings from the not-so-deep South, where I wandered leisurly though Centennial Park to stretch the legs after the flight from Ft. Lauderdale.

Had spent a breezy evening watching the first half of the Rutgers-Louisville game in the Bahia Cabana marina, peeling shrimp and sipping light beer on the dock with some aging Florida pirates. Not bad at all. You'd be surprised how many of the lads were cheering for the Scarlet Knights. A few of them were actually saying "SCAHR-let Knights' in that faux buccaneer brogue....

Marcel Hossa, Marek Malik, Fedor Tyutin and Jason Ward are kicking and heading around a soccer ball in the chilly corridor of Phillips Arena, but somehow I can't figure tonight to be a low-scoring, soccer-like affair.

After the morning skate and before heading out to a power lunch at The OceanAire, an Art Deco, '30 style ocean-liner themed restaurant in the midtown district with former Thrashers and Braves PR guru Greg Hughes, I listened to coach Tom Renney warn about staying out of the penalty box against the Thrashers, who seem to have a different guy score a hat trick each night. Thomas Pock and Nigel Dawes are healthy scratches again. (I feel like a broken record.)

Renney also said that Kevin Weekes would probably start tomorrow night against the Caps in D.C.

A Friday night game here is somewhat rare, given that this is a big high-school football night, but the crowd is predicted to be good because of the attraction of the Rangers.

Anyway, up to the press box we go. More later....

OK, scanning the notebook....

Former WFAN yakker Sidney Rosenberg, bronzed and bullish and on 790 AM from 10 to 1 down here, was at the game last night, wearing a white Rangers jersey with some autographs, schmoozing with the MSG broadcasters and loudly complimenting the Panthers cheerleaders on the post-game elevator ride down from the press box. The more things change....

Rangers were planning to conduct off-ice workouts today and although there's no cheering in the press box, some of us may have been very silently, in a small corner of the hockey soul, wishing for a win so that Tom Renney wouldn't reverse course and call a full, nasty practice. The sun's out and I want a tan like Sid. Nah, can't catch up that quickly.

Brendan Shanahan thought the Rangers succeeded in limiting their lapses last night compared to earlier this season. Hmmm. Malik allows a 2 on 1, there were blue-line misplays with the two leads and Sandis Ozolinsh and Karel Rachunek, the steadiest D-pair as of late, were on ice for two of the three Florida goals.

Problem is, there's no current D really clearing the space in front of the net consistently, except maybe Aaron Ward. Even Renney refered to the reluctance of the D to use force in front of the crease although refs are allowing that "passionate type of play" ---his phrase---more this season. "It'd be nice if we could tap into that a little."

Just wondering: If Orr's back/side/rib spasms continue, maybe Dawes will play tomorrow. I'd try that anyway. Thrashers have some firepower and speed. And Steve Rucchin. Aaron Ward's right wrist appeared quite swollen last night and when asked if he could grip a stick, he responded: "Did you see how I played in the third period?" He also took a slap shot in the sternum earlier, before the killer shot hit his wrist. If he needs a night off, voila, enter Thomas Pock.

Whatever the lineup, buckle up. The Thrashers (with the other Hossa) are flying.

For the moment though, I've got the beach towel