Blue Notes

Greetings, Blueshirt fans. I'm filling in for Steve and Anthony Rieber tonight, so I'll be your guide as the Rangers try to figure out how to snap out of this seven-game funk.

Since the last time we spoke, a lot has changed. I last covered a game on Dec. 10, when the Rangers beat Florida to extend their winning streak to three games. Eventually, that streak reached five.

The prevailing thought at the time was that the Blueshirts had escaped, at last, their early-season pattern of inconsistent play. Henrik Lundqvist and Kevin Weekes were enjoying their best goaltending of the season, the defense had clamped down, and the number of penalties called against them had suddenly (and mysteriously) gone down.

Three weeks later, just about nothing is going right.

The flu bug took all the wind out of their sails (along with back-to-back horrible performances in Toronto and against the Islanders). The Rangers resumed their thoroughly irritating pattern of marching to the penalty box. Lundqvist had a couple of bad games. Jaromir Jagr and Brendan Shanahan feel into deep, deep slumps. And no one seems to have any answers as to what has happened, other than pointing to a difficult schedule and the inability to hold a couple of leads.

We're not here to launch into panic mode, but I don't think it's unreasonable for fans (and players and coaches) to wonder how serious the problems are. As Jagr put it after last night's 1-0 loss in Ottawa: "It's not funny any more."

I think it is fair for the both the fans and media to begin asking questions about the point at which the Rangers need to begin to think about making some major personnel changes.

Tom Renney, for his part, seems to be maintaing a mostly positive demeanor. He seems bent on convincing the team to come around through an "us against them" menatlity, rather than by beating them down, a la Mike Keenan.

A sampling of some of Tom's pre-game comments about the losing streak:

"I think it's a psyche, as much as it is anything. I'm not sure we've played particularly bad, certainly in the last three maybe four [games] for good chunks of games. But it doesn't take much to lose one. We just have to overcome that and stay with it and get back to what we want to be . . . although last night looked like more of what we want to be."

"We have to earn our way out of this slide -- it's as simple as that. We can't be satisfied with even just having played three or four decent games that we could have maybe won -- we can't be satisfied with that. It's all about working for 60 minutes and winning."

And discussing Lundqvist's play in the first period afte giving up a goal just 32 seconds into the game:
"Henrik nailed that and he really gave us a chance to say, 'The hell with that.'"

That last quote is significant because, to me, it illustrates Renney's attitude towards his team's struggles. He's certainly been willing to bench players (Nylander), yell and scream and call the team out for bad plays, but what he hasn't done is begin to single out or call the team out in the media.

Everything that Renney does, including the Nylander benching, seems geared not towards demeaning or embarrassing players for poor play, but towards inspiring them. It's a noble disposition, but if the Rangers can't find a way to beat a Washington team that is playing its fourth game in five nights (an extreme NHL rarity), fans are going to start to ask some very, very serious questions. And they have a right to.

Finally, some quick pre-game notes:

Lundqvist is back in goal tonight. Renney said Ryan Hollweg is probable, although Jarkko Immonen will skate in the pre-game just in case Hollweg's charley horse, suffered in a knee-on-knee collision with Ottawa's Christoph Schubert acts up. By the way, Renney briefly indicated that he thought Schubert's hit on Hollweg was intentional. You wonder if the Rangers will be sending that tape to the league for review... Petr Prucha is out of the lineup after taking a vicious check to the head from a charging Chris Neil last night. Colton Orr will most likely take his place, not Immonen.

Greetings from the Naples Public Library.

Returning some borrowed books and decided to report in....

On the roster front, it appears that Jed Ortmeyer is going to Hartford on a 14-day conditioning assignment, and that defenseman Bryce Lampman is travelling to Ottawa with the team. No big surprises here.

For those who asked about Guerin, he's a UFA at year's end, and he might provide the scoring (16-15-31) that Petr Sykora gave the Rangers at in the final two months of last season. Several teams will want him though, and the price will be high.

And for the record, while I wouldn't mind seeing one more Wolf Pack player here, from what I've heard, only Dawes and maybe Dubinsky are close to NHL ready. Not sure about Callahan. Personally, I have not seen Baranka or Girardi play in Hartford this year.

With the recent scratches and the third-period benching against the Islanders, perhaps we are seeing the end of Hossa's tenure---he hasn't really consistently lifted the level of his game despite all the ice time. Renney likes his size and strength and PK ability, but he can't finish. Same thing with Hall.

Nothing new on the trade front---although I haven't made any calls while I'm on vacation. But it makes sense that likely swap partners would be the Blues, Coyotes and Blackhawks, who wants anything Philly's offering unless they're giving away Forsberg....

One piece of news: The Sens' MIke Fisher is injured and apparently out for the Rangers game

Until later,

Cheers....

UPDATE FROM THE RINK: (where they expect a sellout)

Weekes starts, Henrik is "a little-lightheaded" but will back up. Renney: "I think he'll work out tomorrow and be ready for Tampa."

Cullen will play without a brace on his sprained knee....

Malik out, but day-to-day with "discomfort" from the groin strain

The lines:

Prucha-Ward-Jagr
Cullen-Straka-Shanahan
Hossa-Betts-Isbister
Hollweg-Immonen-Hall

Orr sits...

Nylander skated on his own in Westchester, will skate again tomorrow, and could be ready for Tampa, Renney said

.

Just back from the optional skate at BankAtlantic Center here. The attendees: Henrik Lundqvist, Kevin Weekes, Colton Orr, Marek Malik and newcomer Brad Isbister.

The news ain't positive.

Lundqvist is not 100 percent and won't start tonight against the Panthers, Nylander didn't make the trip and Malik tested his strained groin and isn't ready either.

Cullen, who skated in Westchester on Wednesday, stayed behind at the team's hotel down here to work out with them. His availability isn't known at this point.

Spoke with Isbister, more later on that, along with some humorous moments to relate....

Sunrise----Sam Rosen's cell phone rang as a few interested observers watched the optional morning skate at BankAtlantic Center.

"My favorite quarterback," Rosen exclaimed.

On the line was Bernie Kosar, who once owned a little piece of the Panthers, but who wouldn't be in town for the game.

Too bad.

Maybe he could have dressed for the Rangers.

Henrik Lundqvist, one of the five players skating, said afterward that he wasn't over the effects of the flu that kayoed him for the Islanders game. The Ailing King reported feeling "heavy" and had "no energy. It took me a long time to get going. It feels like I'm going to have to work hard to get back. So Kevin is going to play."

Marek Malik, after about 15 minutes of testing his sore groin with turns and shots, joked as he came over for a sip of water. "Good year," he said, as if it were vintage Cabernet.

The big defenseman joked that he was "sore because my strides are too powerful. I've got to take it easier." Later in the dressing room, he said he made some adjustments: "Top secret, I can't tell you. Now it's not bad, a little bit better," but he still wasn't ready to play tonight.

Throw in Michael Nylander, suffering some type of ear infection, who didn't make the flight with the team and Matt Cullen, who didn't skate on his sprained knee and stayed at the hotel to work out with the rest of the team, and you've got some MIAs.

So, expect all healthy hands on deck tonight, including Brad Isbister, wearing No. 15, who seems determined to stick.

"I didn't feel I was going to get a chance in Carolina," said Isbister, "so I was happy about the trade." Isbister, 29, came here Nov. 21 from the Hurricanes' minor-league team in exchange for Jacob Petruzalek and a pick and was assigned directly to Hartford.

The former Islander left wing, who caught the plane down here with his new mates yesterday, said he would have enjoyed playing against the Islanders on Tuesday. "It wasn't all that long ago when I was on Long Island," he said, "although it seems like that, so playing in any NHL game is going to be great. You learn to appreciate the NHL---not that I ever took it for granted when I was here, you always want to play at the top level. But the first half of this season is something I'd like to forget. I hope to make an impression tonight. I'm excited and I'm sure I'll be nervous," said isbister, who's also made stops in Boston, Phoenix and Edmonton. "It'd be nice to put roots down."

Well, there's an opportunity. At least tonight.

On the ice at the end of practice, after Weekes had gone off, Lundqvist---who apparently was going to start---must have told goaltending coach Benoit Allaire that he wasn't feeling well enough. But he's not flat on his back and I haven't heard of any plans to summon Montoya.
Head coach Tom Renney was not at the skate. Yours truly and the writers here will speak with him during his usual availability a few hours before the puck drops....

At the risk of alienating hundreds---perhaps thousands---of fans and posters here and on other cyberspace sites who are endlessly clamoring for "yutes", as so wonderfully stated in "My Cousin Vinny", the Rangers' call-up of former Islander Brad Isbister isn't the end of the freakin' world.

Why not see what he has?

It's temporary, for crying out loud. No one's signing him to a Kasparaitis deal, OK?

Af for "yutes", Pock and Immonen are already here. Callahan has had two sniffs. Would bringing up more of the untested Wolf Pack roster while the Rangers are battling for first place be fair to the pros---the leaders---who are here like Shanahan and Jagr and Straka?

Granted, Isbister, the veteran left wing acquired from Carolina hasn't torn up the minors.

But he's a pro, only 29, hasn't got the flu, has some size, isn't afraid to be physical, and might give Colton Orr a run for his money. If not, no big deal. You turn the page.

Again, this appears to be a short-term thing. The risk is pretty low. Three-game losing streak, right?

Would I rather see Nigel Dawes? Maybe, because the team needs some speed. But only if he was going to get a long-term shot.

****
Nylander (flu) didn't travel to Florida with the team today. Ortmeyer is at least a week away, maybe more.

Cullen (knee) and Lundqvist (flu) will apparently play tomorrow against the Panthers, and maybe Nylander and Malik (groin) dress on Saturday in Tampa.

No need for hysterics. That can wait until the second half of the season....

Another domino has fallen.
The flu has now claimed Henrik Lundqvist, who will not play tonight. Kevin Weekes will start against the Islanders.
Al Montoya was summoned from Hartford and was flying via helicopter on a one-game emergency recall.
Lundqvist, who skated this morning, called trainer Jim Ramsey about 4 p.m.
Brendan Shanahan has not yet arrived here at the Garden, but is expected shortly and likely will play.

Henrik Lundqvist and a depleted team will need a super effort tonight to edge the Islanders.

In a dour medical report, Michael Nylander (flu), Matt Cullen (knee) and Marek Malik (groin) are all doubtful and Brendan Shanahan (flu) didn't skate this morning and is a game-time decision, coach Tom Renney said.
"There's enough instability," in Cullen's knee, Renney said, "and insecurity to go with that...you don't want to compromise anything else."

Forward Ryan Callahan was not at the skate---he couldn't join the team until Sandis Ozolinsh cleared waivers at noon---but is en route from Hartford for his second game with the club this season. He played in Buffalo on Dec. 1.

Renney said that defenseman Thomas Pock, another callup who did skate, probably will take Malik's place alongside Michal Rozsival tonight.

The situation is so severe that Renney joking asked some writers and TV commentators about their availablity: "Sam (Rosen) will dress, Zip's definitely in, Larry's (Brooks) behind the bench," Renney said. Joe Micheletti, who arrived late for the coach's press availability after the skate in Westchester, apologized for his tardiness. "You're sorry? OK, you're in," Renney said.

Minus a handful of regulars, Renney pointed to Garden's other team, whose shorthanded effort was enough to upset the Jazz last night. "Look at what the Knicks did last night," Renney said. "As long as the try is there...."

As for Ozolinsh, Ranney said: "Maybe there is something there, but we can't afford to experiment with that longevity any longer. We're hoping he goes to Hartford and he plays and he's clicking and feeling good. He's not far off from being a regular player here. The problem is, he's got to play more. Beyind that, it is attrition. Let's face it, how much is there left to help us?

A few weeks ago, when Petr Nedved was waived by the Flyers, there were whispers that the Rangers might be interested in the 35-year-old who has played with Jaromir Jagr in Pittsburgh, and is a former Ranger who might help QB the power play.

With a little over three hours left before the holiday roster freeze, the rumor mill is rumbling that Nedved, now with the Phantoms, might be involved in a multi-team last-minute deadline deal that would send him back to New York. Today's waiving of D Sandis Ozolinsh would free up the money needed to slide Nedved under the cap...

No word from the Rangers yet, and I'm skeptical, but stay tuned...

Jed Ortmeyer, who was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism in August and is attempting to return to NHL shape by playing in Hartford, will remain there for two more games on Friday and Saturday.
Ortmeyer, 28, has played three of the last four games with the Wolf Pack, but was deemed not ready to be recalled and his special long-term illness rehab has been extended as allowed by the collective bargaining agreement, the Rangers have confirmed.
The winger has played well early in games, but tires and was replaced by Frankie Lessard on every fourth shift the other night, according to Bruce Berlet of the Hartford Courant, with whom I spoke a few minutes ago.

The Rangers were looking for offense last March when they acquired defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh from the Anaheim Ducks. Today, concerned about his defensive liabilities and lack of offense, the 34-year-old former All-Star was waived and Thomas Pock summoned from Hartford.

We can only assume that Pock, who made the club out of camp and played five games, then was scratched for 15 games before being dressed as an emergency forward for on Nov. 19 against Tampa, will play regularly. Pock, 25 had been sent down on Dec. 11.

Ozolinsh, who had no goals and three assists and was a minus-8 in 21 games this season, is in the final year of a contract worth $2.75 million. If he clears waivers in 48 hours, he will be assigned to the Wolf Pack and about $1.8 million of his prorated salary will be removed from the Rangers' salary cap.

It was unclear whether Ozolinsh, who had offseason knee surgery and pled guilty in June in White Plains for driving while impaired in May, would report or retire. His agent hasn't responded to a phone message left at his office.

If Ozolinsh is recalled by the Rangers, he would have to clear again and if another team claims him, they would divide the remaining salary. Either way, it appears Ozo's tenure as a Ranger is over.

The move comes on the day of the league's eight-day holiday roster freeze, leading to speculation that another transaction might be imminent. Or the Rangers simply felt that they'd rather have Pock available rather than Ozo for the next week.

If you're a regular reader of this space, I don't need to repeat that Pock should never had been sent down and allowed to rust. Renney's explanation: He wanted to assess the veterans. OK, assessment over.

But to some extent, Pock's return was necessary because the Rangers' defense is less than healthy, with Aaron Ward nursing a fracture in his foot, Darius Kasparaitis and others with lingering flu symptoms and Marek Malik suffering a groin strain last night in a 6-1 loss to the Devils.

Greetings from the Garden, where Michael Nylander (flu) and Matt Cullen (sprained knee) aren't dressing and Kevin Weekes is in the cage against the Devils.
Coach Tom Renney will dress all seven defensemen, and probably use one as a winger. Or, he could double-shift a center. Aaron Ward said he still hasn't shaken the flu bug either
Renney said D Thomas Pock was not called up from Hartford because he played back to back games Friday and Saturday.
As for Jed Ortmeyer, don't expect to see him soon.
Renney said Ortmeyer, who has been in Hartford on rehab for three games as part of his recoverty from a pulmonary embolism suffered in August, will be recalled, then re-assigned, Renney said. "He's not ready for the NHL," Renney said.
More later....

Word of out Canada is that Karel Rachunek has the flu that's been going around the team, and Aaron Ward is still pained by a three-week old right foot fracture. Fedor Tyutin seems to have recovered---but jeez, don't you wish Thomas Pock was still here...So Ozo may be back in tonight against the Leafs as the Rangers try to their sixth straight win....

Newsday's Anthony Rieber is subbing for me at Air Canada Centre tonight.

I'm at home hosting our annual family and friends holiday party, but will be at the Garden on Sunday....

Just call me dazzled---and dumbfounded--- in Dallas.
If you had told me before last night's game that the Rangers would beat the Stars by three goals without a single score from Jaromir Jagr, Brendan Shanahan or red-hot Martin Straka, I would've made a Texas-sized wager.
Lucky me.
Before the game, in a discussion with broadcaster Dave Maloney, I mentioned that unless Stars goaltender Mike Smith was rusty, the Rangers would probably lose.
"Rusty" turned out to be a polite----if accurate----phrase.
Smith, playing his eighth game of the season, was Swiss cheese, allowing three costly, bad goals---two on Matt Cullen shots and one by Karel---yes, that Karel---Rachunek, who hadn't scored since playing in Russia last season. Rachunek, who was Swiss cheese defensively, also had a second goal---shorthanded no less!
Go figure.
Henrik Lundqvist on the other hand, was superb. He ignored all the pre-game hoopla about playing professionally for the first time against twin brother Joel, younger by 40 minutes, and flashed the stellar form of his rookie season---although he said he was acutely aware of every second that his brother was on the ice.
He made uncanny stops on Sergei Zubov (8 shots), Jere Lehtinen (6) and Eric Lindros (4) and Philippe Boucher (5) among others.
The Stars overwhelmed the Rangers in the first and second periods, yet managed a win due to Smith's blunders. Blame this one on coach Dave Tippett, who tapped Smith over No. 1 keeper Marty Turco in an odd strategic decision. That's the dumbfounded part. Wasn't this game a biggie for the Stars?
Smith told me before the game that he had only seen highlights of the Rangers before coming to American Airlines Center early yesterday morning to watch video.
Well, that's it from this building... more ramblings tomorrow.
Stay tuned...

The Chairman and right-hand man open up....

In a pre-game interview last night here in Dallas, MSG Chairman James Dolan and MSG Sports executive Steve Mills discussed topics affecting Rangers Nation from putting a minor league team in Brooklyn, to raising ticket prices, to cutting back division games, to expectations for the season, to the status of Tom Renney and Glen Sather and progress on a new Garden.

Here's a synopsis, some of which is sure to raise eyebrows and trigger reaction:

*****
The Rangers are investigating the purchase of an East Coast Hockey League team that would play at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn.
"There's an opportunity for us to control the entire pipeline of the players more fully and we think there's an opportunity to extend the Rangers' presence," Mills said, possibly as soon as next season. Last month, the Garden entered a deal with the owners of a 25-acre sports complex at the site which has two rinks, one of which can hold about 2,300 people.

****
Dolan said he thought this team could compete for the Stanley Cup. "I think last year, the focus was to get into the playoffs, to prove yourself to be a playoff team; the way they look at themselves now, the way they're energize, they're thinking about where they go in the playoffs, not just get to the playoffs. So I expect that, its all subject to injuries etcetera...I think they can go a way. I think they would be disappointed if they didn't get through the second round or at least get to the second round, maybe they can go further. It's not impossible to think they can win the Stanley Cup or play for the Stanley Cup."

*****
Although Dolan said "Rangers fans are incredible, I think they have shrines in their basement," he and Mills said ticket prices will increase if the Rangers make the playoffs; if they don't, prices will stay the same.

*****
Dolan and Mills said they would be willing to reduce the number of games against each Atlantic Division rival---the Islanders, Devils, Flyers and Penguins---from eight to six per season. "I wouldn't go any less than six," Dolan said. "Wherever the Rangers go, they draw a crowd...Inter-divisional play is real exciting for our fans. Those rivalries are great rivalries. On issues like that we try to support the league, so if a change like that really helps other teams in the league we're good with that."

******
The possibility of a new Garden in the Farley Post Office across Eighth Avenue isn't dead. "We've got a new governor and if we saw the Farley process was stalled, we'd have to make a decision soon," on a full renovation of the current building, Dolan said.

******
President and general manager Glen Sather isn't going anywhere, Dolan said. "He's built a real fine organization. Not just players, it's the coaching staff, the medical staff, we've got the best goalie coach (Benoit Allaire) in the league....[Sather] essentially has an open-ended ticket...he can stay as long as he likes."

*******

Coach Tom Renney isn't on thin ice either. "I think you have to be pretty happy with Tom Renney," Dolan said. Renney's contract, which was to end this season, was extended at the end of last year, Dolan revealed.

******
Acquiring a high-salaried veteran at the trade deadline is possible. The salary cap "makes the farm system more important.... 'Do we have a youngster who's up and coming?' that's what I ask first. But if you need a year from a veteran, we can do that," Dolan said.

The text message was a good-natured warning.

"It said, 'They have a great scorer in Dallas right now, so I'd better be ready'," Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist said with a laugh. "I realized right away that he was called up."

The electronic dispatch that arrived Wednesday afternoon wasn't from any ordinary opponent. It was sent by Lundqvist's identical twin, Joel, a center, who was summoned from the minors to join the Stars for tonight's game, and presumably longer. "It's a pretty big deal for both of us," Henrik said after the morning skate at American Airlines Center. As youngsters in Sweden and through the junior ranks, to the national team and the Swedish Elite League, the twins always were teammates. "We've never played against each other," he said.

That is until tonight, when not only was the matchup a new experience for the dark-haired 24-year-olds, it was one for the NHL record books.

The Lundqvists are the third set of twins to play versus each other in the NHL, but tonight marked the first time that one was a forward and the other a goaltender. The last time that two twins faced each other was on March 14, 1994, when Rich and Ron Sutter played wearing different jerseys. Patrik and Peter Sundstrom played against each other 18 times, the Sutters 17. The only other twins active in the NHL are Henrik and Daniel Sedin, who've played their entire careers for the Vancouver Canucks.

This family reunion was a bit of a surprise. Joel had been returned to the Stars' Iowa affiliate in the American Hockey League on Sunday after playing four games with Dallas, but when Mike Modano was put on injured reserve, he was quickly recalled. "We talked last week when he was up and we were looking forward to seeing each other, but he got sent down, so of course we were a little disappointed," said Henrik. "I'm excited, but it feels a little bit strange, I'll tell you that."

Said Joel: "We lived together for 20 years, so you know a lot about him, how he feels in different situations. It's going to be amazing."

From their beginnings in hockey, the twins knew their roles. "I was a goalie from the start, from when I was eight or nine," Henrik said. "We skated before that and we took turns, he was in the net a couple times. But in the first practice [with a youth team], I was the goalie."

So who has the advantage: shooter or stopper?

"I would say 50-50," said Henrik. "We've practiced a lot against each other growing up, a lot of shots and breakaways and it's funny, sometimes I just know where he's going. But it doesn't help me all the time. I just have to be patient and see what he's up to."

Over in the Stars' dressing room, Joel---who was born 40 minutes after Henrik on March 2, 1982---said that after all these years, he was aware of flaws in his brother's game. "I don't tell everybody. Yeah, I'm gonna tell the team. He's good, but if I get a breakaway, I know what to do."

The brothers are understandably similar physically (6-foot-1, between 190 and 195), but have developed individually. "When we were smaller kids, we were more like one person. But when we got to be 16 or 17, we had our own personalities," said Joel. "He's a goalie so he's maybe stronger about himself. I'm more like a team player; he's a team player, but as a goalie you're more left alone. If he had played forward, he would be a goal scorer, because he likes to be in front. I'm a hard worker, a two-way player."

Their careers are on different arcs as well. Lundqvist crashed the party as a rookie last year in New York, winning 30 games for the resurgent Rangers, emerging as a Vezina Trophy candidate and being named one of People Magazine's 50 "Most Beautiful People". Joel was a third-round pick in 2000 whose first taste of the NHL just came on Dec. 4. "I'm not surprised he's played in the NHL," Joel said of Henrik. "He had three or four really good years in Sweden, but I'm surprised how really big he has become in New York." Asked about his brother's appearance on the magazine's list, he grinned. "It's terrible. I don't know where my spot is."

Stars' coach Dave Tippett does. "Joel brought some good grit to our lineup, some identity to our fourth line. He's a smart checking player who has a physical edge to his game...It was funny watching practice out there. You could see his twin (Henrik) down standing at the glass, just watching everything he did. Hopefully, he can watch him shoot on him tonight."

It'll be a rare family affair here in Dallas tonight.

With Mike Modano placed on IR, the Stars late yesterday recalled center Joel Lundqvist and for the first time in NHL history, a twin brother who is a forward will face an identical twin who is a goaltender.

The identical twins were in contact last night, and spoke briefly while Joel was on the ice at about 10:50 this morning. Henrik, who hadn't put on his equipment because the Rangers were skating after the Stars, came out of the locker room and stood watching the Stars skate from between the benches. Joel, who had been up for four games before being sent down to Iowa, and Henrik briefly exchanged greetings and planned on meeting after the game.

Close up, the resemblance is remarkable, even with Henrik's beard.

In speaking with each of them today, their personalities are similarly engaging. Their parents, Peter and Eva, will be able to see the game because they have arrived in New York from Sweden to spend the holidays first with Henrik and then, Joel.

The two have never faced each other, except practicing as youngsters, but Joel says if he comes in on a breakway, he'll know how to score. Great stuff from both fellows.

I'll have plenty more on this later and in tomorrow's paper.

Also, Garden boss James Dolan is on the trip and will meet with several writers before the game to discuss the team. We'll update you on that during the game and also in tomorrow's editions.

As for the lineups, Mike Smith, who hasn't played in 10 days, will be in goal for the Stars. Aaron Ward and Petr Prucha are expected back after one-game scratches for the Rangers.

Stay tuned

With apologies to the Sir Douglas Quintet:

"Driving through Irving in a PT Cruiser
Going just 60 makes me look like a loser..."

I'm far from a pickup truck guy anyway, but this has the makings of a 21st Century country song, right?

Anyway, just checked into the Dallas Renaissance (switched on Mavs-Lakers and ordered some brisket and beans from room service) Hey, when in Rome...

But also logged in and saw that Jed Ortmeyer had three shots and an assist in the Wolf Pack win over the Phantoms tonight. A good start...

Every Ranger practiced here earlier today, according to the Rangers, so we have to assume that AWard has recovered from his food poisoning. (When I asked Renney yesterday if Ward's ailment could be considerd "an upper body injury" in NHL-speak, coach said: "More like the whole body."

(Mavs leading Kobe's boys by 10, but Josh Howard just foolishly fouled Kobe on a long three)

Speaking of threes, Lindros, Zubov and Barnaby face their old team tomorrow at American Airlines Center, about two miles from where I write this. I'll' be reporting from the morning skate, so circle back here for lineups and the scene...

One last note (an I-pod leftover from the flight): You know who may be the most under-rated Texas songwriter? Guy Clark.

Cheers until tomorrah....

PHILADELPHIA---Imagine.

Imagine if the power-play hadn't been 0-for-6.

Imagine if Jagr scored on just one of his 11 shots.

(He had two in the second period; the Flyers had just three.)

The Rangers outshot and outchanced the Flyers---horribly weakened by injuries---but one unlucky bounce and this one would have been tied before the Straka-Nylander 2 on 1 late in the third.

On the other hand, the odds were against it: The Flyers are now 1-15-1 when they allow the first goal of the game.

Not that it matters. The Rangers didn't get some bounces earlier in the season.

Things are evening out.

On the injury front, Jason Ward was limping a bit afterward. Jagr was OK after the headshot from Hatcher, who may receive some payback the next time these two teams see each other. Aaron Ward (flu) is day-to-day. Prucha, according to Renney, will play against Dallas after a one-day view from the stands.

"I thought this would be an opportunity for Pete to take a deep breath. He knows he's got our complete support as a coaching staff and from his teammates too. Again, given the nature of who I thought they might dress tonight, I thought it might be important for [enforcer] Colton (Orr) to be in the lineup."

Straka, with the assist on Nylander's goal, extended his league-tying scoring streak to 11 games. In that span, he is 7-12-19.

The Rangers penalty kill was 4-for-4. In the last 10 games, they have surrendered only five goals in 39 times shorthanded.

Enjoy this readers, because goals will be even tougher against the Stars (tied with Calgary and Detroit for the fewest-allowed in the NHL with 63 going into tonight) on Thursday.

Time for the hopefully-uneventful drive north, and then I'll be winging off to Dallas tomorrow.

I'll check in from there.

Stay tuned....

D Aaron Ward (flu) was scratched....The defensive pairings: Mailk-Rozsival, Kasparaitis-Tyutin, Ozolinsh-Rachunek

The Flyers lineup looked more like the AHL Phantoms; due to injuries, Philly is missing eight players from their opening night lineup.

Nonetheless, Tom Renney said before the game "I'm fricking nervous..."

For those of you who read Sam's amusing blog as well, yes, I did give him an unexpected tour of the western Pine Barrens. Not a sidetrip I recommend.

Actually, it was a test to determine if he was a closet Devils fan. But no, he wasn't even aware of the tales of the mythic creature in the woods.

I was actually more annoyed than he was. I wanted to interview some Flyers and missed their skate.

We'll be on the right highways coming home, though....no sidetrips....despite his bizarre desire to stop at Taco Bell.

Petr Prucha was scratched for the first time this season and replaced on the fourth line with Orr, who went headhunting immediately and drew a penalty....

Pock is a lefty, not righty, my error, should have double-checked media guide

And as for Ortmeyer, I'm not reallly sure about when he'll return. After this Hartford "conditioning loan", during which he is expected to play three games, Renney said, "we'll evaluate his career..."

More TK...

Here's what the Garden boss told Knix beat writers earlier today:

“I really don't compare the two situations. I think it's pretty different. The Rangers have a whole farm system and a whole scouting system and a whole developmental system that doesn't really exist in the NBA. And I have a great deal of confidence in Glen and everything he built that it was eventually going to come to fruition and give us success. The Knicks don't have that. What the Knicks have is readily visible. We got one rookie, three second-year guys. We don't have any assets sitting in the closet developing. We have what we have."

Kevin Weekes will dress tonight for the second consecutive game, and Jed Ortmeyer is in Hartford to play two or three games with the Wolf Pack while the Rangers are on this road trip.

After the morning skate, Rangers coach Tom Renney said that playing Weekes back-to-back was mapped out in his long-term gameplan. It didn't hurt that Weekes played very well i(34 saves) in the 3-1 win against Florida, or Renney could have shifted gears.

Henrik Lundqvist, who was informed last night of the plan, said he will be back in the the cage against Dallas on Thursday.

Ortmeyer, who is on a conditioning "loan" to Hartford, which is permitted for players with long-term illnesses, joins Thomas Pock, who was assigned there Monday.

Pock, who two weeks ago requested to stay with the team rather than return to Hartford, acquiesed this time."I don;t think he's resistant to anything that's going to help his career," said Renney. "At this is point in time maybe he realizes that playing is more important than spending time here."

Ironically, Pock might actually have been beneficial to the Rangers tonight if Aaron Ward (flu, didn't skate this morning) isn't ready. Pock is a right-hand shot and Sandis Ozolinsh, a lefty, who has been scratched for three games, would be paired with another left-handed defenseman.

As for Ortmeyer who was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism on Aug. 13, and was cleared for contact in practice on Nov. 24, "The trick there is as long as he keeps his shifts sensible....,that will also help him get into game shape better. After the six days in the AHL, Renney sadi he would determine whtehr Ortmeyer is ready for NHL games. "It's on open page for me," Renney said. "We'll get feedback from the coaches there and talk to Jed himself."

One other potential lineup change: Renney said that playng Colton Orr, also scratched for he last three, would be a game-time decision, although Orr was the last skater on ice with Lundqvist this morning, which usually signals a scratch...

Looking ahead, the Lundqvist versus Lundvist matchup (Henrik vs. twin brother Joel) apparently won't occur.in Dallas. After three games, the Stars sent Joel, a center, back to the minors. "It's too bad, It would have been nice to see him," said Henrik. "He said the experience was good for him, though."

More later from Wachovia Center.....

Quick: What's the average age of the Rangers D?

Answer: A lot older right now without Tommy Pock.

The Rangers will shoot for their fourth consecutive win against the banged-up Flyers in Philadelphia tomorrow minus the 25-year-old Pock, who has played sparingly this season but recently asked to stay and practice with the club rather than return to the AHL's Wolf Pack, where he spent most of last season, yesterday was sent to Hartford on a two-week conditioning assignment. The assignment allows the Rangers to recall Pock without exposing him to waivers, where his $600,000 annual salary would make him appealing to many teams.

Pock---basically the eighth D-man since Kaspar's return from his own conditioning stint--- has played in just six games this season (1-1-2) after making the team out of training camp. But coach Tom Renney has stuck with veteran defensive pairings, squeezing Pock out. His last appearance was Nov. 19 as a fourth-line wing.

A week ago, Renney scratched defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh, but dressed Darius Kasparaitis, who has skated in the last three games, leaving Pock on the bench.

Faithful readers know that Blue Notes has been lobbying for Pock to dress all season. Well, at least he'll get a chance to rattle off the rust.

The hobbling Flyers (8-17-4) are missing far more critical players, however, and are dressing numerous minor-leaguers. Yesterday they learned that forwards Mike Richards and Geoff Sanderson will miss at least four weeks with abdominal tears. Jeff Carter has already missed 17 games with a broken ankle, goaltender Robert Esche has been sidelined after groin surgery and Peter Forsberg (right foot) has been in and out of the lineup all season.

The Rangers beat the Flyers 5-4 in a shootout at Wachovia center on Oct. 7 on a Marcel Hossa goal. Three nights later, the Flyers won 4-2 at Madison Square Garden. Pock scored his lone goal in that game. Henrik Lundqvist was in the net for the Rangers in both games, and is expected to start tonight.

Tomorrow night's contest is the first of a three-game road wing for the Rangers (15-10-4), who play Dallas Thursday and Toronto on Saturday.

We'll report live from Cheesesteak City after the morning skate...

Stay tuned....

OK, finally watching on the big screen from home...

Another tight, playoff-like game with no room for error... Next goal is a very big one. Wonder which team will sag a little in the third after last night's games...

How about Al Trautwig's Jethro Tull references during the Marcel Hossa between-periods interview and then coming back after a break speaking about being "on the thin ice of a new day"....

But Al didn't play the trump card: He could've asked this trivia question: What band did original Tull members Mick Abrahams and Clive Bunker form after Tull's debut album? Answer: Blodwyn Pig.

If Hossa or Cullen could catch a break in front of Eddie the Eagle, there would be some breathing room...

Best observation: Joe Micheletti noting that goaltending coach Benoit Allaire was working to get Kevin Weekes to stay on his feet, not crouch and allow pucks over his shoulder....

Way too many Bobby Granger promotions and AMEX Tiger Woods commercials....can't MSG sell any ads?

Kevin Weekes will start in goal tonight. Tom Renney indicated that he's trying to get Henrik Lundqvist a little rest in the midst of what will be a relatively compact schedule from now until the New Year.

"I thought about [starting Lundqvist]. But we sort of mapped out our month here. As much as we do that, we leave ourselves the latitude to make changes. I think this makes sense. The next month is pretty intense."

It was interesting to hear Renney talking about "mapping out" the month. It makes you think that he and the coaching staff have put some thought in ahead of time about how much they'd like Lundqvist to play. Of course, Renney will always feel the need to adjust that schedule based on who's hot and who's not, but this is the first indication we have seen that Renney is actively trying to keep Lundqvist's workload from approaching Martin Brodeur (70+ games) levels.

Smart move, although Rangers fans will be holding their breath as usual with the inconsistent Weekes in the net.

Another interesting pre-game storyline has been the sharp decline in the number of penalties called against the Rangers in the past two weeks. Since taking 10 penalties in a 3-2 overtime loss to Buffalo at Madison Square Garden on November 26, the Rangers have totaled only 12 penalties against them in the last FIVE games.

As you may recall, Brendan Shanahan and Tom Renney both had some choice words about the officiating and the lack of a call on a pick play on Shanahan by the Sabres' Jason Pominville on the overtime winner.

Naturally, Renney didn't take the bait when asked if one had anything to do with other.

"I hope it's just nothing but great discipline," Renney said. "I'm not sure. It certainly has helped our game, there's no question about that. I think we're moving our feet, I think our sticks are where they belong. I'm sure we'll have nights where we scratch our heads and ask why. When you can keep your penalties under five, you're giving yourself a chance."

Renney also said Darius Kasparaitis will dress for the third straight game.

"There's just a fresh dynamic in our room [with Kasparaitis in the lineup]," Renney said. "He's a talkative, communicative guy. He affects others in a positive way because of that. As much as he's been OK on the ice, there are other residual effects with having him in the lineup as well."

Kasparaitis was his usual jovial self before the game, kidding Jaromir Jagr for showing up a few minutes late to the locker room. "Mucho traffico, amigo," Jagr responded. Apparently Spanish is not Jagr's third language.