Blue Notes

.... Where one two-game winning streak will end tonight, either the Leafs' or the Rangers'.

Toronto has won 4 of 5 and goaltender Andrew Raycroft is 6-1 in last seven road starts...One man's opinion: Henrik Lundqvist will have to outplay Raycroft for the Rangers to win what may be a bruising game.
***
D Karel Rachunek will probably take Michal Rozsival's (knee sprain) spot on the point with the first power play unit, Renney said. "(Dan) Girardi's not out of the question. but Karel's got a little more experience." Matt Cullen, who played point on the PP in Carolina, hasn't been used on the point, Renney said, because he prefers not to have a second forward on the blue line. "You've got to get the puck out of our end, and that's where Marty Straka is very valuable."

***
For the first time this season, LW Ryan Hollweg (no points all year) was a healthy scratch. Colton Orr got the start (his first game since Jan. 16 in New Jersey). "The big thing with Ryan is that his game has just slipped a bit; he's not the same player with the puck that he needs to be," Renney said. "You shave to make plays coming out of your own end...That along with the fact that he's just really squeezing his stick. We just really need to give him an opportunity to take a step back."

***
Aaron Ward and Matt Cullen will fly to Washington Friday morning and meet their former Hurricanes teammates at Dulles Airport to be bussed to the White House for an afternoon ceremony with President Bush honoring the defending Stanley Cup champions. It will be Ward's third visit; his prior trips were with the Red Wings. The pair will rejoin the Rangers by 7 p.m. Friday in Tampa for Saturday's game.

***
Rookie D Girardi, who again will be paired with Fedor Tyutin, played several pre-season games at the Garden, but this is his NHL regular-season debut here. His parents and fiancee will be on hand, he said. "So far, so good," Renney said of Girardi's play against Philadelphia and Boston. "This'll be a good test for him."

More later....

Michal Rozsival's left knee (MCL) sprain will keep him out of tonight's game against the Leafs, but coach Tom Renney expects him back Saturday in Tampa. He injured the knee in the second period against Boston and left the game. He was doing upper body work during practice.

As mentioned in today's story in the paper, Thomas Pock--a healthy scratch for the last two games--- will take his place.

The semi-surprise is that Colton Orr will dress, and although Renney did not specifically name him, Ryan Hollweg will sit. "There's a player who needs a rest," Renney said after preactice. Hollweg was the last skater out on the ice, long after the other players had left. But he indicated that Hollweg still had a major role with the team.

So, it appears Orr will play with Hall and Krog on the fourth line and provide some muscle against what promises to be a very physical effort from the Leafs, who hit everything in sight in a 4-1 defeat of Carolina last night.

The defense pairings:

Tyutin-Girardi
Ward-Malik
Rachunek-Pock

More later...

The reports of Peter Forsberg waiving his no-trade clause today (on sportsnet.ca and other locales) were premature.

But I think he will, eventually.

No need to do it yet.

Philly can now let clubs come to them with offers and then ask the world-class, if injured, 33-year-old center if he'll waive the clause to go to a specific club.

I presume the Rangers' best chance is to offer what they believe is a fair deal, and see if Forsberg really wants to come to New York rather than elsewhere and join fellow Swedes Henrik Lundqvist and Michael Nylander as well as Shanahan and Jagr.

The Rangers have the cap room they'll need. Forsberg's $5.5 million by that point would be about $1.2 or $1.3 million.

BOSTON----One musical note before we get down to business.

Bob Seger's saxophonist Alto Reed (how's that for a stage name?) is scheduled to play the national anthem. If Seger can get here from Detroit in time, he may sing, we're told.

Thinking of night moves, Rangers' lineup is the same as in Philly.

Forwards Jason Ward and Colton Orr and defenseman Thomas Pock are healthy scratches again, and the same lines and defensive pairings were to be employed.

The rationale? "Success out of Philadelphia," coach Tom Renney said. "Pretty good synergy between the lines that we had. Dan Girardi played well enough to stay in the lineup for now. I liked the looks of those combinations of people. The bottom line is you always want to get yourself to the point where you have interchangeable parts, I'm hoping that's where we are now, and we'll work off whatever's successful and keep doing that."

Reunion Arena: Ryan Hollweg and Bruins winger Stanislav Chistov played together as 13-year-olds in San Jose for a year. Chistov was part of a Russian exchange program. They haven't played against each other since.

Duckpins next? Renney confessed that he was among the worst bowlers at a team outing on Sunday night. "But at least I didn't throw the ball while the pins were being set like Straks (Marty Straka) did."

More later...

According to Sportsnet in Canada, Flyers C Peter Forsberg has agreed to waive his no-trade clause during a meeting with GM Paul Holmgren.

The Rangers, Canadiens, Leafs, Red Wngs, Ducks and Sharks, as we've mentioned here before, are among the interested teams...

Forsberg, suffering from an injured right foot, will be a free agent....

Nick:

No problem at all...

My reaction was directed toward some of the comments I had to edit for inappropriate
language, etc. that never made the Big Board...

A low-cost cure for the second-line center woes?

Bryan Smolinski.

A rental.

Available from the Hawks.

Mid-level prospect and a pick?

Sure, he's 35, but 11-18-29 in 49 games.

Whatcha think?

Rangers practiced today at Boston University and were holding team-building off-ice activities tonight
I'm told lines and defensive pairings were the same, so look for that against the Bruins. More in tomorrow's Newsday...

Some quotes, etc. that were cut for space from today's game story:

"Tonight was a really good example of how we want to play," said Lundqvist, who made 17 saves. "Maybe the power play (0-for-6) can hopefully score some goals on Monday (in Boston). We knew that special teams will be huge going forward. But this was a good start after the break."

Jagr: "I'm gonna get better, I know that. I feel stronger, it's only a week, I need one more month."
His goal was the 610th of his career, tying him with Bobby Hull for 13th on the all-time list...Krog's goal was his first since Nov. 24 (16 games)...

In his NHL debut, D Dan Girardi played a poised, if not earth-shaking, 11:58. "I had to respect the power and speed of the other players," he said. "I had to make plays around people and not through them, and make sure my feet were moving quick when guys were going wide."...

The revamped third line of C Matt Cullen, Petr Prucha and Jed Ortmeyer played with energy, generating 10 of the team's 35 shots...

Forwards Jason Ward and Colton Orr and defenseman Thomas Pock were healthy scratches

Flyers D Randy Jones separated his right shoulder....

Now that's more like it.

Personal attacks, blood-thirsty passion, anger.

Thank heavens, many of you really aren't comatose out there.

Even Mr. Anonymous, who shouldn't be posting without a real name.

Clearly, everybody missed the words "Devil's advocate" in the last entry.

Actually, Devils was perhaps the wrong terminology, I pray New Jersey's style goes the way of the glowing puck.

Just taking a position for debate.

Just hanging up the pinata for you guys to hammer.

Guess I struck a nerve.

Nick: Of course I remember Bure, Lindros and the long-term deals.

I was writing sidebars and columns during the Stanley Cup Finals at the Garden (you can look it up) and as a fan in the 60s and 70s, shared season tickets in Section 420.

If you've read this journal from Day 1, I've praised Dawes, Dubinsky, Callahan, Pock, took repeated shots at
Renney for playing older vets, especially on D.

Of course Forsberg isn't the answer. They're not going to get him anyway. Philly's asking too much.

But this team is flawed and needs some outside help and it's going to cost them. Brendan Morrison or another center or scoring forward won't come cheap.

And they'll be better off without Forsberg, as long as they use some of the youth to land some offense.

If not, that's OK, it's just "Wait til next year...."

The flames were crackling at Chez Zipay---I threw the media notes from the Flyers game into the maw with the logs---and the tunes were, well, jazzy: Brother Jack McDuff's "Vas Dis", Lea Delaria's "Call Me", Hilton Ruiz' "West Side Blues".

If you don't know em', download them now. You can always hear the Killers.

You'll thank me later.

The phone rings and it's a pal watching Flyers-Thrashers, who says Peter Forsberg snapped at a ref, was benched for a bit and then publicly moaned about being frustrated after the game. He's supposed to meet with GM Paul Holmgren about his future tomorrah.

Sounds like the trade winds are blowing stronger.

A swap to a contender would be a wise move for the Swedish center, the Flyers (who can get some players) and the other team. Why wouldn't Forsberg want one more shot at a Cup? He might just be re-energized and pretty bleepin' valuable on the power play.

He could put the Wings, the Sharks, the Preds, the Senators---over the top. The longshot Rangers could use him just to make the playoffs, then see what happens.

So I'll play Devil's advocate here and await your responses slamming me.

If I'm the Rangers' front-office, I'd ask for the medical reports, dangle Montoya, plus Prucha or Dawes or Immonen and a pick for Forsberg---at least to get to the table. The Sharks can offer Toskala/Nabokov, a D-man and a shooter, I assume, so you offer Montoya, who won't play enough as a backup next year anyway.

Shanahan and Jagr aren't getting any younger and you're not giving up on rebuilding with Callahan, Staal, Dubinsky, Byers, Korpikoski, Pyatt, Moore and others in the pipeline.

OK, take your shots.

Tell me you want to hold on to every Wolf Packer. Tell me you want a different center (Brendan Morrison?) for less. Tell me Forsberg's a huge risk (I know).

Or maybe you want to watch the season go up in smoke like those pages and pages of media notes...

And shell out millions for Daniel Briere or Chris Drury next season and hope Shanny and Jagr and Straka are healthy...

Oh, and that the vaunted prospects (none of whom are Alex Ovechkin) all blossom....

The stars better be in alignment.

Because the Pens and Sabres and Ducks and Sharks and Sens are all going to be just as good or better next season.

Then what?

I'll check back in after driving up to Boston tomorrow.

Philadelphia---Martin Straka, who missed two practices with the flu, is here and will play.

Defenseman Thomas Pock will sit, and 22-year-old Dan Girardi will make his NHL debut paired with Fedor Tyutin.

All-Star Brendan Shanahan was back and practiced today, but the Rangers left for Philadelphia this afternoon without a key player: Martin Straka is still down with the flu.

He could fly south tonight or early tomorrow for the 1 p.m. game if he feels better.

Jason Ward skated in Straka's place with Jagr and Nylander.

Rookie callup defenseman Dan Girardi skated with Fedor Tyutin again, so it appears Thomas Pock might sit tomorrow.

Possible explanations: The Rangers are trying to determine which veteran defenseman (Rachunek, Malik) they can package with a prospect or pick for forward help, because they know Pock can play.

It is also possible that Pock, and some other players, have been slightly under the weather.

I'm guessing Pock will be back in against Boston.

First let's be clear, Jaromir Jagr did not seek the press to send a message about his will and determination; he wanted to work out and not talk to the media.

But he did---upon request---and took a stand befitting a captain.

As he indicated earlier in the season in private moments after games or practices, his lack of production is eating him up.

Early yesterday evening, in an indication that perhaps his shoulder is stronger and his confidence is returning, the mercurial Czech superstar seemed to grab the brakes of the Rangers'downbound train, and say, as the engineer, it's my job to turn it around before it careens off the tracks.

Maybe he was hurt by Brendan Shanahan's critique after the 3-1 loss to the Thrashers that questioned the power play and the East-West style.

Maybe Jagr, a proud player who respects the game, the Rangers and his place in the sport as an acolyte of Mario Lemieux and the finest player in his home country, realized he has to step up and do whatever it takes to set an example and drag this team to the playoffs this season.

Maybe Jagr looked inward and found some revelation, namely, that he simply has to score key goals in this stretch run.

But enough psychoanalysis: We report. You decide.

Here's pretty much unedited Jagr from the dresssing room, with only a few players around:

" I tried to work out every day (during the All-Star break) ....Maybe it’s not going to show right away. But I feel like because I started to do something, the body got used to it. And even if we’re going to play, I can continue to work out the same way---my body is going to get used to it, I think.”

When asked if he could have a sustained offensive push, he said, " You have to believe…I’m truly hopeful. I can promise you I’m going to do everything for that.”

“I don’t want to talk about it, but I truly believe something huge is going to happen...with me. That’s my hope. And obviously, if something happens with me, it’s going to help the team for sure....When you’re the top guy and the captain, if you do well, the team does well. And I understand it’s a team game. But when the game is on the line, individuals have to make the difference...If you want to be the special guy, you have to have those special moments. That’s what I play for. That’s what I live for."

“I don’t play good, the team doesn’t play good. That’s the way it is. I’m not saying I’m the team... I spend a lot of time on the ice. The coach gives me the things I need. I have to be the guy...No question about it.”

A born-again Jagr?

Can you say Hallelujah?

Should be intriguing to witness....

Defenseman Dan Girardi will practice with the club later today, and Darius Kasparaitis was at the the rink in Hartford.....
Just back from Dallas, some tales to tell....Stay tuned

Had to be done, though.

In a move that allows the struggling Rangers to add a player from the minors, Darius Kasparaitis has been waived.

If he clears, the veteran defenseman, 34, will be assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack, where he previously spent a two-week conditioning stint.

Kasparaitis, who has one year (at $3.3 million) remaining on his contract, was in South Beach and could not be immediately reached for comment.

A healthy scratch for several games before the All-Star break, Kasparaitis has appeared in just 24 games this season (2-2-4, minus-1). He had both abdominal and shoulder surgery in the off-season and had definitely slowed on ice.

Kasparaitis has said that he felt "under scrutiny" all season, and wondered if his time with the team was drawing to a close. But he said he feels he can still contribute---even with another club.

The transaction opens a spot on the 23-man roster for either another defenseman or a forward, or borth, depending on whether another move is made by the club before the Flyers game on Saturday.

As we've believed since last weekend, one or more players from the Hartford Wolfpack will join the Rangers at practice tomorrow, the first since Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Thrashers.

Coach Tom Renney and assistant General Manager Don Maloney watched practice yesterday in Hartford---and will possibly again today---as Bruce Berlet of the Hartford Courant reports:

"(Ryan) Callahan, (Nigel) Dawes, center Brandon Dubinsky and defensemen Daniel Girardi and Ivan Baranka are the most likely to join the Rangers. The Rangers would have to put a player or players on waivers because they're at the 23-man limit."

More later...

Dallas---You know the phrase. Guy looks like a mondo Texan, but there's no beef on the ranch.

If I learned anything yesterday, it was this: The NHL definitely needs to rethink the Young Stars format, played in front of a half-empty house at half-speed.

Look, we completely understand that this an exhibition and no one wants to get see prized prospects writhing on the ice, but what good is a showcase if everyone's crusing?

Back-checking? None.

Stick-checking? Hahahaha....

Floating? Waaaay too much.

Did Evgeni Malkin venture into his defensive zone once?

Ok, Zach Parise and Phil Kessel and Anze Kopitar caught my eye. There were moments, but not nearly enough.

G Kari Lehtonen deserved the MVP if the game (and I use that word loosely) ended after the second period.

D Brent Seabrook looked like he didn't belong.

In fact, any defenseman whose game relies on physical play (Shea Weber?) didn't belong.

Maybe the youngsters should simply have a short skills competition---hopefully better organized than the NHL event, which included convoluted rules and gaps of time when nothing was happening on the ice.

Or have the younger players out out for one period of serious play (North America vs the World?) for a cash donation to a charity---and some prize money to the winning players.

Maybe just a shootout?

During his news conference, Commissioner Gary Bettman said there were 70 high school hockey teams in Dallas.

With some free tickets, maybe some of them could've helped fill the seats at American Airlines Center.

Maybe some of them should have been on the ice.

By many accounts, Dallas is a far bigger hotbed than Atlanta, where the All-Star festivities will be staged next year.

The big hats in the NHL better come up a presentation far more tantalizing than this twelve months from now.

Dull, followed up by embarrassing, isn't what the sport needs.

From a rapidly-filling notebook in Big D, with more to come later:

First, here's Brendan Shanahan, who is having trouble scoring recently, so take this with a grain of salt:

"I don't think we're at a point yet where we have to make the nets bigger. The goalies are going to hate me for saying this, but I think we failed with the goaltenders in streamlining their equipment. So much of the focus was on the width of their pads, and It's really about their upper body. I just don't understand how a cop can walk down the street in a bulletproof vest and look normal, and yet our goalies have to look like lacrosse goalies or Michelin men in order to stop a puck. I think the shoulders are high again. I think their armpads are square again, jerseys are big, pants are big."

****
You've probably read the reports---including mine on newsday.com about the Board of Govs just missing a two-thirds consensus on a schedule change for next season. Nineteen teams did want some movement, though, so 2008-09 looks promising.

No surprise. The league probably needs to wait until the Pittsburgh situation is resolved---which Commissioner Gary Bettman said would be "within weeks"---before tackling any schedule change or possible re-alignment, whoch should theoretically come at the same time. Bettman says he still hopes the Pens remain in the Steel City, but...

If Kansas City is the new home of the Pens, the league now will have to live with that for a year.

Reaction from Bill Guerin, former Dev, now with the Blues: "I miss not going to every arena. I’d like to get back to the old schedule. The way we travel now it’s not a big deal for the players. We’re supposed to be doing things for the league."

***

The word from the Rangers camp is that Jagr had a touch of the flu and worked out at home yesterday....Cablevision boss James Dolan was here for the BOG meeting, then left...The GM is around though, and I'm going to try to catch up with him later

***
As I prepare to cozy up in the press box at American Airlines Center for the Young Stars game, a few thoughts on the state of the Rangers and Isles.

Neither have reps on the East Team.

In fact, the only Rangers rep was G Dan Blackburn in 2002. In that game, by the way, Karel Rachunek (Ottawa) had an assist…In 2003, Marcel Hossa (Montreal, two assists) and Adam Hall (Nashville, goal and assist) played in Young Stars game as did former Ranger Pavel Brendl (Carolina), who had two goals. Trent Hunter (Isles) had an assist in 2004.

****
Pittsburgh’s Ryan Whitney and Ottawa’s Andrej Meszaros both called Jagr the toughest player to defend because of his size and skill...It appears Florida has decided to move Gary Roberts…Karppa, which means “otter” in Finnish, is the nickname for Kari Lehtonen, the Thrashers goalkeeper who stifled the Rangers 3-1 the other night. “Because I used to be fast,” he said…

****
A blast from the past:

Six former local MVPs in the All-Star Game: Billy Smith in 1978 (15 saves); Mike Bossy in 1982 (2 goals). In 1984, Don Maloney had a goal and three assists…Mike Gartner in 1993 (four goals and an assist) and Mike Richter in 1994 (19 saves, 2 goals against)…Wayne Gretzky, fittingly in ’99, with a goal and two assists.

****

Tomorrow's game, on Versus, is the first not on a weekend since 1993....Next year’s game is in Atlanta, that's followed by Montreal and a Centennial celebration

Dallas----Having some coffee before what's shaping up to be a long but interesting day: the new uniform unveilings, player availablity at the rink, All-Star practice tonight. But some quick answers to your posts:

Shanny: Sure, I'd try Cullen on the point. That was a topic earlier int he season. But that was a different PP style in Carolina, so you wouldn't use him with Straka-Jagr-Nylander, etc. With Shanahan, Prucha and who else? Pock on the other point and Dubinsky or Dawes? Who would you put in front of the net? Hossa (no hands). Dane Byers? Or if the Rangers could somehow get Tkachuk...

Michael: Sure you're discouraged. Who wouldn;t be? But there's talent and a work ethic on this team, it's maybe just one or two players short. I believe you will see one or two youngsters summoned from Hartford on Thursday. They need a spark, an infusion.

Champ: I like Campoli, but not sure the Rangers would trade with the Isles, though, and they do have young D in the pipeline. If the Rangers surrender prospects and picks, I believe it will be for a center or power forward and a D like the Blues' Eric Brewer or the B's Brad Stuart.

Will check in later after a day out and about...

Champ:

Dallas---The flight here this afternoon started out bumpy, but the pilot changed speed and direction to restore the balance.

The same strategy needs to be applied to the plodding Rangers, who Brendan Shanahan said were "off balance."

So much for all that "team-building" in the pre-season, however well-intentioned.

Turns out the Rangers need more bricks and mortar than getting-to-know-ya gatherings and back-slapping sessions for sponsors.

Last season, the Rangers were sailing along before the Olympic hiatus, then hit the rocks.

This year, they desperately need the All-Star break: For Jagr to rehab, to scout for some fresh legs in Hartford and elsewhere, to re-jigger the power-play units.

Just before I dozed off at the window while reading the Sunday papers, there was an echo from the past.

"Shoot the puck, Barry!"

Bill Chadwick, the Big Whistle, knew what Barry Beck and the Rangers of that era needed to do to score.

Fire the rubber at the cage. Pounce on rebounds.
Poke at loose pucks.

No difference nowadays---especially on the power play.

A frustrated Shanahan said as much after the 3-1 loss to the Thrashers Saturday.

"We don't put the puck to the net often enough," Shanahan said in his venting. "We have a power play that's set up for one shot every 30 seconds. Successful power plays put the puck to the net and get people going there. Penalty killers are too good to allow you to pass the puck through them and have all these clean beautiful looks. You've gotta get some dirty gritty goals. Who cares what they look like just so long as we're getting goals on the power play."

" If we're smart we'll change the look of it. We go out and give the opposing team exactly what they've scouted, exactly what we've been doing all year long. We really don't change anything. It's very simple for a team to do a pre-scout on the New York Ranger power play and then we don't disappoint -- we go out and do exactly what they were expecting us to do. We've got some world-class offensive players, we have to get together as a unit and say what can we do to bring us more success. It's a huge weapon -- people are afraid to take penalties on you, they play you softer. It should just be set up for scoring goals, whoever scores them to win games."

Without naming names, the spiel certainly fingered the Jagr-Nylander-Straka-Rozsival quartet---and in the second part---Tom Renney and the coaching staff for not adjusting the man-advantage units.

Listen, Shanny and North American players jelled with Russians in Detroit.

Of course, there were several more talented players and a more experienced NHL coach.

Early last week, Renney said he thought "we could win with this team." To get 43 points, the Rangers will need to go something like 19-10-5, which may not be doable.

One blueprint: Move Prucha back to the No. 1 PP unit with Jags, Straka and Nylander. Move Shanahan to the second with either Nigel Dawes or Brandon Dubinsky. Get another center or power forward. In the meantime, stick Hall or Hossa or Ortmeyer in front. Use Pock and Rachunek at the points. Fire away.

I don’t think the divergent groups in the Rangers multi-cultural dressing room is a fatal flaw. Make some moves, win some games, and the balance---and the confidence---should be back.

The word from today's practice is that Jason Krog was centering Shanny and Cullen.

Talk about a stop-gap.

We can only assume that the front office will now renew attempts to land a second-line center by the trade deadline.

They've run the fill-in gamut except for Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Hollweg, for pete's sake: Cullen, Straka, Nylander, Betts, Immonen.

Brendan Morrison, Robert Lang, Jozef Stumpel, they're out there. If this team wants to make the playoffs,
a No. 2 center is essential. If the Rangers are in love with so many of their prospects, they can afford to give one up. Or maybe give Dubinsky---who appears to be a keeper---a shot before pulling the trigger on a deal.

In a distressing note, rhere's one center who the Rangers let slide this summer and now he may be called up by the Caps.

Alexandre Giroux signed with Washington as a free agent. The 6-3, 200-lb (yeah, he's not that beefy) Giroux has 30 goals and 14 assists in 39 games for the AHL Hershey Bears.

More later....

There's safety in numbers, strength in numbers.

We''ve all heard of lucky numbers, magic numbers, phone numbers, the High Numbers (the pre-Who band).

You can paint by numbers or murder by numbers (as Sting once wrote).

In fact, there are plenty of song titles with numbers that aren't used in the lyrics (two come to mind immediately: The James Gang's "Funk 49" and Dylan's "From a Buick 6").

The Bongos sang about numbers with wings:

I spy
I see through everything
But I know
I don’t know anything
And on cold nights
My soul is like anyone’s
And on slow nights
I’d forgive anyone
I’ve got a number with wings

In sports, of course, numbers are compiled, crunched, projected, debated.

So without further ado, let's spin some out:

After Saturday's game against the Thrashers---the 48th of the season and last before the All-Star break----the Rangers will have either 50, 51 or 52 points.

Fifteen of the 34 remaining games will be against Atlantic Division teams. So far, the Rangers are 8-9 in division games. Yikes.

Eighteen of the 34 are at home, where the Blueshirts are 10-9-3.

Last year, the Rangers racked up 100 points. This year, hmmm, I project them at between 90 and 95.

Last year, Tampa qualified for the playoffs with 93, Montreal with 92. The Rangers are on the cusp.

In the East, it certainly appears that Sabres, Devils and Thrashers are in. The battle will be for the other five spots.

After the All Star break, the Rangers will have a game in hand on Montreal and Toronto and two games in hand on Tampa, Ottawa and Carolina.

Advantage: Rangers. One or two points could be crucial in separating those six teams.

The Devs and Caps will each have played 48 games. No advantage there.

But Pittsburgh and Boston will have two games in hand, and the Islanders one. Advantage: Pens, Bs and Isles.

After the festivities in Dallas, although the Rangers' travel is limited to the East Coast, there are seven back-to-backs, which presumably is why coach Tom Renney said Weekes would be playing "a lot of hockey" the rest of the way.

So, Game No. 48 for the Rangers on Saturday is indeed a significant one.

As Renney said today after practice (courtesy of Newsday's Adam Ronis, who filled in for yours truly): "We certainly want to go into the break playing well. I think the Boston game we showed signs of getting our game back and the New Jersey game was fairly complete for us. We'd like to really punctuate our last game properly."

Having just 50 points going into Saturday, said Renney, is "less than stellar. The record pretty much sums it up. It's average. We need to be at the very least above average down the stretch if we're going to secure a playoff spot."

As for the players, Brendan Shanahan (No. 14) has been named captain of the Eastern Conference All-Star team. Michael Nylander (No. 92) who was a bit foggy after absorbing some hits by the Devs, skated and is expected to play Saturday.

And No. 16, right wing Jason Ward, a healthy scratch for the last two games, skated with Marcel Hossa and Colton Orr, according to Ronis, who spoke with Ward afterward.

"I thought I've been playing hard," Ward said. "I'm not going to get the puck out every time, but I try my hardest. I just got to be held more accountable, I guess. There's not too much positive when you're sitting. I have to hold myself more responsible for puck control. [Tom] wants me to be stronger on the puck...I have to be more physical than what I'm doing, so I have to make a minor adjustment to my game."

D Darius Kasparaitis and RW Adam Hall, the other healthy scratches, also practiced, and Renney said he would determine tomorrow which of the three would play Saturday.

That's also from Ronis. Appreciate it, Adam.

And speaking of giving credit, it was an oversight on my part to miss noting that Larry Brooks broke the Martin Straka contract extension story the other day.

Since we're talking numbers, I'm at minus-1.

If you've got some Rangers calculations to contribute, feel free. I'll be back here later....

What's that Raconteurs tune that sounds so much like an out-take from the Cars?

Like old wine in new bottles.....

Oh yeah, "Steady As She Goes".

With some depth here, the Wolf Pack jelling, and only the Atlanta game Saturday before the All-Star break,
it appears to be that way for the Rangers roster. Steady, with maybe a little twist.

In a sit-down today with three writers, Coach Tom Renney did indicate that one or all---Jason Ward, Adam Hall, Darius Kasparaitis, who were healthy scratches for the last two games---might return to the lineup, having received the message. Which, Renney said, was not anything to to with "attitude...more technical stuff."

There was no on-ice session today. Renney did say center Michael Nylander apparently doesn't have a concussion after missing part of the third period thanks to some Devils checks, and that he should be ready for the Thrashers game.

We'll get a better sense of Renney's thinknig tomrrow at practice. I'd guess either Hall or Ward might be in for Orr, but after that....hmmm. If Kaspar's going in, and there's a rotation, why not rest Rachunek?

Any observations out there? Let me know.

Will swing back here tonight...

Give GM Glen Sather credit where credit is due.
At least two of the three parts of the Rangers' No. 1 line will return next season.
Signing Martin Straka, who is having a career year and provides a work ethic to be emulated throughout the lineup, to a contract for next season isn't a surprise.
Straka, 34, who may score 40 goals this year, had thought about retiring at the end of last season, and spent a few months at home in the Czech Republic thinking before agreeing to a one-year deal for $3.1 million. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer as well, but instead has agreed to a $3.3 million contract for 2007-08.
He said today that after Sather raised the subject a few weeks ago, he discussed the offer with his wife, and decided to accept because he is healthy and playing well with countryman Jaromir Jagr, who is signed for next year.
"I'm hoping Michael (Nylander) comes back too," Straka said today, a move that would complete the trio.
"And Shanny," he said, mentioning the veteran core of the Rangers.
More on this and the Rangers other free agents, what that bodes for the roster, and some thoughts from coach Tom Renney later...

One update: Ex-Hurricanes Aaron Ward and Matt Cullen have the green light from Renney to attend a White House ceremony honoring the Stanley Cup champions on Feb. 2. They will apparently will join the Rangers in Tampa later that evening, which precedes a Feb. 3 game against the Lightning.

That's what my trusty (well, not today) old laptop did this morning and hours on the phone with Dell tech support seems to have locked it down even more....

So, I'm grouchy and banging on the backup tonight here in the swamp, devoid of compiled research, IMs, AOL, sticky keys, cranky cursor---don't know how I'll manage.

Probably better.

The Rangers are slightly askew also, going wiith re-mixed second, third and fourth lines: Blair Betts between Brendan Shanahan and Marcel Hossa; Jason Krog between Matt Cullen and Jed Ortmeyer and Petr Prucha centering for Ryan Hollweg and Colton Orr. “Hossa deserved the opportunity to contribute even more than he has, we’ll see how that goes,” said Renney.

Darius Kasparaitis, Jason Ward and Adam Hall are healthy scratches for the second straight game…

If Henrik Lundqvist doesn't get toasted tonight, expect him to start again Saturday against the Thrashers, the final game before the week-long All-Star break. "Kevin (Weekes) is going to play a lot of hockey for us, but if Henrik feels good and is playing well, he'll go," Renney said.

You might see another dispatch here later, and the good lord and wireless willing, a game story in the paper tomorrow.

Otherwise, I wonder if any of those pigeons I saw in the parking lot can fly east with a rolled-up piece of norebook paper wrapped around a leg?

Jaromir Jagr practiced today with Jason Krog and Colton Orr.

Michael Nylander and Martin Straka skated with offensive threat Marek Malik.

And All-Star Brendan Shanahan was on the backline with Darius Kasparaitis.

Nah, kidding, kidding.

Just trying to raise your blood pressure, o stalwart knights of Rangers Nation, ready to cross swords with coach Tom Renney at the drop of a puck.

But Renney did experiment with three of the four lines and restored some defensive pairings in prepping for the Devils in New Jersey tomorrow.

The Straka-Nylander-Jagr line is intact. But Blair Betts centered Shanahan and Marcel Hossa; newcomer Krog was between Matt Cullen and Jed Ortmeyer, and Petr Prucha was flanked by Ryan Hollweg and Orr/Adam Hall.

Interesting, eh?

The D duos: Malik-Rozsival, Ward-Tyutin, Rachunek-Pock.

Kasparaitis, in a green jersey signifying backup status, was paired with green-shirted Jason Ward, a right winger. Indication: They will be healthy scratches again, as was the case against the Bruins.

Renney said he was looking for "a bit of balance from both sides of the puck. We might have touched on something here. Looking at the way this sets up and looking at what we have in extra bodies, it's kind of nice to have some depth. The ability to have offense from each line and a defensive conscience."

Because Devils coach Claude Julien will have the match-up advantage at home, the Madden line, with Jagr shadow Jay Pandolfo, will be out whenever possible against the No. 1 line. Renney indicated that he might be able to quickly pull Jagr and pals or Jagr alone to disrupt that strategy. "It's not only the line, if you can get one-off with the player..."

Breaking up the Shanahan-Cullen-Prucha line seems to be a reaction on the defensive side. When matched against another team's No. 1 line, they have faltered.

The other message seems to be that with Krog, a center claimed on waivers from Atlanta, around Cullen will be a left wing and an attempt will be made to find a pivot to get Shanny the puck more---either here or outside the organization.

"He's (Shanahan) got such a great shot, and he'll muck with the best of them, " Renney said. "He also understands where the good ice is and how to get his stick free, so it's important that we do try to help him get good shots, whether that's Blair or Jason....and we tried Michael (Nylander) there."

Krog was a teammate of Cullen's in Anaheim and there might be some chemistry there down the road, and Ortmeyer's energy level is a plus on any line.

But Prucha with Hollweg and Orr or Hall doesn't seem to bode well for scoring---or ice time.

*******
In other items that aren't earth-shattering but amusing:

Former Hurricanes Cullen and Aaron Ward planned to ask Renney and GM Glen Sather if they could attend a White House ceremony to honor last year's Cup-winners on Friday, Feb. 2, the day before a game in Tampa. Apparently the Canes will pay all the airfare, including the flight from Washington to Tampa.

***
After practice, Kasparaitis, wearing a thick blue headband around his blond hair, was kidded by Jagr: "You're going to be in the movie..."
Kaspar didn't get it.
"Pirates of the Caribbean Four," Jagr said.
Kaspar wasn't in the mood.

***
The Rangers, who have won two of three games with the Devs this season, the last one a 3-2 shootout victory in the Continental Airlines Arena on Jan. 2, will hold their pre-game skate in New Jersey tomorrow. Henrik Lundqvist is expected to be in the net for the 7:30 game. The Devils lead the Rangers by eight points in the Atlantic Division standings.

Anybody out there ever hear of Smokin' Joe Kubek, the blues guitarist?

Last season, I gave a CD of his to former New York Times hockey writer Jason Diamos (hey man, hope all's well....)

Anyway, thought of both Jason and Smokin' Joe on Saturday.

After most of the media had cleared the dressing room Saturday afternoon after the 3-1 defeat of the Bruins, Jaromir Jagr put an unlight cigar in his mouth and happily strolled toward a back room where players were watching the NFL playoffs.

"Anybody see Glennie?" he joked, referring to stogie-puffing GM Glen Sather, of course.

As you probably know by now, Sather spoke to NHL VP Colin Campbell about excusing Jagr from the game in order to rehab his shoulder and hip flexor, and, the league agreed.

The league also didn't select the deserving Martin Straka---which Coach Tom Renney didn't mind because Straka's sore neck/back also could use a week off, judging from his coy response to my question about Straka, who scored his 24th goal against the Bs-- in the post-game presser. Said Renney, "I love the All-Star Game, but...", and buttoned his lip.

The Rangers didn't ask for Straka to be excused, although as someone who has watched him first-hand at virtually every practice, skate and home and away game, Marty is having a career season in all phases of the game.

Anyway, the Rangers' No. 1 line will be well rested for the second-half push.

I've got a feeling they'll respond. If not, no excuses, fellas.

Rather than comment on shaky trade rumors drifting around----just a day after Assistant GM Don Maloney shot down rumors that anything was imminent and doubted that any deal would be made before the trade deadline next month---here's a question:

Besides Straka, I'm wondering who you guys and girls out there believe should have been selected to the East and West teams? Touched on some of this in my Sunday column in Newsday, which I wrote late Friday and updated a bit on Saturday.

The requirement that one player per team be selected probably eliminated some Sabres and the Thrashers' Ilya Kovalchuk.

But I'd love to hear your thoughts on Straka, Jagr, and the NHL All-Star selections and oversights.

By the way, I'll be in Dallas for the four days of festivities, so check in there for reports on the prospects game, the NHL board of govs meeting, the sights and sounds, the news and whatever musings seem appropriate...

And if there's trade talk that sounds legit 12 days from now, when all the front office folks will be in one locale, you'll read it here...

Brendan Shanahan, the Isles Jason Blake, and the Devils' Martin Brodeur and Brian Rafalski are the All-Star reps for the three local teams named today.
Jaromir Jagr was not selected. It's unclear at the moment whenther the Rangers, ciiting his hip flexor injury asked Jagr, who has 17 goals and 41 assists, to not be included, but it seems likely.

Center Jason Krog, claimed off waivers from Atlanta on Friday, didn't have to make a long trip.
Krog, who will wear No. 20, said he was at the Thrashers morning skate when he was told that he was headed to New York.

Coach Tom Renney said Krog would play, but wasn't sure on which line. "I've got him penciled in; we anticipate he'll play enough to make a difference."

Adam Hall (4-7-11, minus-13) will be benched for the first time this season. Darius Kasparaitis, who had played 18 games in a row after spending all of November on a conditioning stint in Hartford, was a healthy scratch. "It certainly could be the beginning of our (defensive) rotation that we spoke about," said Renney.

Colton Orr, eligible to play after serving a five-game suspension of highsticking Washington's Alex Ovechkin, skated in warmups. Didn't see Jason Ward on the ice. He could be out today.

Rangers are wearing their "Liberty" jerseys, dumb idea for an Original Six team in a game that will be televised by NBC. What happened to tradition?

The Bruins, Leafs, Lightning and Isles all are nipping the Rangers heels for the lower playoff spots. So in some sense, this is a pretty important conference game, although it's only mid-January.

"You look back to maybe expectations for the team this year, whether we've been able to handle them or not is a question," said Renney. "The bottom line is, we had a pretty good year last year and our last 20 games were awful. I'm hoping we've had 20 games bad ones now and we've got ourselves in a real good position to nail down a playoff spot."

The remaining All-Star choices will be announced this afternoon. Stay tuned here.....