Blue Notes

Got my flu shot yesterday. Left arm's a little sore, but I'm in there swinging.

Not so for Ryan Hollweg. The left wing didn't get the shot offered by the team, and looked wrung-out at the training center. Hollweg, who didn't skate, said he usually gets sick after a flu shot, so he passed. Marcel Hossa skated, but something was working on him as well, coach Tom Renney said.

With the status of those two forwards unclear for tomorrow's home game against the
Capitals, Sean Avery (recovering from a separated left shoulder) could be in the lineup.

Avery skated with coach Perry Pearn for an hour and 20 minutes on Tuesday and practiced with contact for the first time today in Hollweg's spot on a line with Brandon Dubinsky and Petr Prucha. After the skate, a newly-bearded Avery---who spent some time schmoozing in the Garden's blue seats on Monday--- said the range of motion in his shoulder, which was dinged slightly today by Dubinsky, isn't an issue.

"We'll see how I feel tomorrow," he said.

So, until tomorrow's morning skate, when Renney can assess the condition of those three players. he won't determine his lines.

Unless goaltender Henrik Lundqvist comes down with the flu, he will start his 12th consecutive game. Backup Stephen Valiquette said he believes he will make his season debut in one of the three games that the Rangers play in four nights next week. (Home against the Flyers Monday, Nassau Coliseum Tuesday, home against the Penguins Thursday.)

There was some encouraging news on Martin Straka, who broke a finger on his right hand blocking a Zdeno Chara slapper in Boston on Oct. 20.

Straka will have more X-rays Saturday and could skate with a protective shield on Monday, both he and Renney said.

Oh, and Jagr has new front teeth. But it looked like he didn't feel like discussing them with writers. So I left to buy bags of candy to prepare for the after-dark visits by the local trick-or-treaters....

More on Avery---and the Caps---in tomorrow's paper and on newsday.com.,,,

Evening, all.

Back at Chez Zipay, making chili and settling in for a glance at Versus. Some key scorers on the Wild (Gaborik, Demitra) are ailing, so I'm picking the Pens.

Pretty good give-and-take on the message board during the day.

Lots of forwards in the mix all of a sudden, huh? Remember, depth is a good thing, but limited by the salary cap, too.

I really don't expect many transactions before Straka/Callahan return, unless someone else is injured, so all this is down-the-pike speculation.

As someone suggested, let's see how players perform in November, as the Rangers try to climb a few games above .500, an attainable goal.

Wouldn't mind some more depth on defense, however, later this year, because Struds is your No. 7. If Boyle isn't doable----and the Lightning should be in the hunt, so they may not trade him anyway----then he's a UFA target.

Brent Sopel? Brad Stuart? Derek Morris? Yikes.

Say Rozsival's 2007-08 performance isn't worth ante-ing up $4-5 mil per?
And, let's assume Boyle shows no ill effects from the wrist injury. Hmmm.

Boyle-Staal, Tyutin-Girardi, Sauer-Mara?

McCabe, in my opinion, is way overrated. Redden's vaguely interesting, although, as mentioned here before, John-Michael Liles or Shea Weber might be less-costly fits.

Rozy-Staal, Tyutin-Girardi, Liles/Weber-Sauer?

Just thinking waaaaaaaaay ahead.....

For the Rangers, beating the Caps and old pal Mikey Nylander (3 assists vs. Leafs Monday) is on the front burner....

That's it for me tonight, gang, will be back tomorrow with a dispatch from the skate.

Just to be clear, Montoya may turn out to be an above-average NHL goaltender, and I hope he does. It just appears it won't be in New York.

If not in Tampa, where, as Jimbo correctly points out, there are prospects on the bubble, then somewhere else. The concept here is simply to raise possibilities which the Rangers may---or should be---exploring down the road.

Several teams (Phoenix, for one) need help in the net, but many teams have youngsters developing.

As for Prucha---a great kid with speed---whether or not you agree on his value, I just hope he isn't injured again. His fearless style and lightweight frame may, unfortunately, lead to that. It appears the coaching staff doesn't see him on the top two lines this year. Note: this year. Maybe next year, when possibly Shanahan, Straka and Avery aren't around? Maybe not. Then what?

Not everyone can play in the top six. Do I wish Prucha was used more on the power play? Yes. But it would help if he mixed in a few goals wherever he's playing. Hope he breaks out soon, perhaps with Avery and Dubinsky, because he doesn't look confident.

Anyway, just opinions to trigger off-day discussions. Please weigh in...

I'll swing by again tonight....

Barring a setback in the next few days, we're guessing Sean Avery will return on Saturday after missing a month with a separated left shoulder.

So, on this catch-up day for me, no skate, but plenty of errands, phone calls and paperwork, questions and some stats:

Where should Avery play?

Jason Strudwick will likely return to the bench. Does Avery slide onto the third line with Prucha and Dubinsky, moving Hollweg back to the fourth, HBO line?

That's the obvious short-term move, not tinkering with the top two lines of Hossa-Gomez-Jagr and Shanahan-Drury-Dawes. Could spark some scoring from the third line (hello, Petr Prucha), and Avery will get minutes on the penalty-kill, which has been outstanding anyway, snuffing out 22 of the last 23. Nice to have some depth.

One more question: With Henrik Lundqvist's goal-against-average down to 1.82, he's in line for a huge contract come January. Actually, he was anyway, but...

That raises the Montoya issue. Once Lundqvist is locked in, wither Al? If he's not your No. 1, when to move him? Think the Lightning would be interested in him, perhaps Prucha and a pick for Dan Boyle, due to be an unrestricted free agent who will command more money ($5 million per) on the market than perhaps Tampa wants to pay? Otherwise, they face losing him for nothing in return...

Renney likes Boyle (who doesn't?), so shouldn't the Rangers at least make a run at him in a trade? He's a quality PP QB (10 goals, 27 assists with the man-advantage last season) who'll be 32 in July.

Thoughts?

In this dry season, the Rangers haven't scored much through fancy passing and 30-plus shots a game.

Last night against Tampa, they continued to shoot, with one extra addition, they went to the net and stayed there.

"We talked about putting pucks on the net, but also having bodies there, having screens there, working the blue paint, getting the greasy goals. That's the way we are going to have to score," said coach Tom Renney.

Jaromir Jagr, who lost the handle on a breakaway in the second period, scored on a power play in the third with Brendan Shanahan screening goaltender Johan Holmqvist and Shanahan scored while battling two Tampa defenders 2:44 later with a man-advantage. Jagr, missing front teeth and sporting a swollen lip thanks to an errant puck, had a game-high six shots.

Chris Drury had assists on both, and won 15 of 22 faceoffs. Jagr also recorded an assist, and has 11 points in 11 games.

Shanahan, who assisted on Nigel Daews' third goal in three game that opened the scoring in the first period, raised his career totals to 629 goals and 670 assists for 1,299 points

And then there was Henrik Lundqvist, who denied Tampa's Vinny Prospal at least three times, and has allowed two goals or fewer in eight of his 11 starts. The lone tally las night was a Vinny Lecavalier penalty shot.

The celebration shouldn't last too long. The Rangers still have just 19 goals in 11 games, the lowest total in the league.

But the two power-play goals in seven chances represents a start, especially after ranking 24th in the league with a man up. And scoring just three goals overall in the three previous games.
.
Next up, a day off tomorrow before regrouping Wednesday in advance of Thursday's visit by the Caps.

Enjoy....

Seems pretty simple, and yes, Tom Renney has discussed the above with the players.

"I'll bet you seven of the 10 goals on a nightly basis happen with big traffic at the net," Renney said before tonight's game.

"It just gives the goaltender something else to think about. I don't know what it is," he said. "Guys have a tendency to get off to the side. Just get in the goaltender's eyes, now it's something else he has to contend with. It's a hard one."

Renney also referenced a quote by Brett Hull when asked about shooting.

He said, 'I have an idea of where the goaltender's gonna be and where the net is and I just shoot it," Renney said, paraphrasing Hull.

"Sometimes they do overthink, especially guys who've had great careers finishing. I firmly believe it's all instinct, they have a general idea of where the goalie would be and just shoot. I think Shanny should just rip it and hit the net. The other night, three or four great shots, all of them wide, I'd aim right for here," he said, pointing at his stomach. "The worst case scenario is he's gonna have to make a save, 50-50 chance you get a rebound."

****
Tonight's radio broadcast has been shifted to ESPN/1050 AM.

****

Tampa's All-Star defenseman Dan Boyle will play his first game of the season after accidentally slicing tendons in his arm when a skate fell off a hook in the locker room during the exhibition season.

Sean Avery (separated shoulder) has been cleared for contact, and briefly skated with Jaromir Jagr and Scott Gomez this morning in what was not an optional practice. All healthy players were on the ice.

Rangers coach Tom Renney said Avery "probably has Thursday's game circled on his calendar," but that Saturday---four weeks since the injury---was more likely.

Martin Straka (broken finger) still hasn't been cleared to skate, and Ryan Callahan (knee sprain) said he is improving...slowly.

The Rangers have not offered Dave Scatchard a contract. The veteran center was brought in earlier this month for a tryout here and then sent to Hartford, but a groin pull put him on the shelf. Renney suggested that the lack of training camp conditioning contributed to the injury.

Perhaps the Rangers will make some noise tonight at MSG against Tampa.

Imagine a three-goal outburst! OK, two.

No guarantees, though. Lecavalier and Prospal are off to very good starts and too many goaltenders have been channeling Patrick Roy against the Rangers. Tampa has 32 goals, twice as many as the Rangers in one less game, but is 0-3 on the road. All five wins have come in Florida.

Speaking of noise---if you haven't guessed---it appears that Chuck, Phill, Bob, Pete and Mike are one, multiple-personality, poster.

So if you're not into discussing hockey with Sybil, ignore him---although at least he or she, and others, have toned down the inappropriate language because Newsday's editors are stepping in to enforce the company's policies.

I don't expect many changes or revelations at the optional morning skate, but check back here just in case.

Unless someone caught the flu overnight, expect the same lineup.

As Scott Boras/ARod said to the Yankees: See ya!

If Chris Drury breaks his scoring slump tomorrow against the Lightning and goes on a roll, maybe we should credit an old yellow board.

Alone on one end of the rink at the end of a rare Sunday practice yesterday---which was preceded by a 45-minute team video session----Drury was firing pucks off a foot-high yellow board attached to the lower part of the net and flicking the rebounds high into the cage.

"Did that in Buffalo," he said later. "First time here. The board seemed a little livelier there."

With all due respect, at this point last season, the Sabres were far livelier than the Rangers, who can be both moribund, muddled and mystifying.

There was no sleeping-in or leisurely Sunday brunches on the Upper West Side or in Westchester, as the Rangers watched game footage together a day after they lost their poise---and the game---to the Maple Leafs in the latter half of the second period, surrendering three goals in less than eight minutes.

After his press conference at Madison Square Garden following the 4-1 defeat that dropped the Rangers to a distressing 3-6-1, coach Tom Renney had made the decision: Scratch the scheduled off-day. Players were told to show up today at 11 a.m.

However, instead of a punishing, no-pucks, skate-til-you-drop workout, the morning began with a 45-minute meeting that included a reminder of how the team dug itself out of a deep hole last January to make the playoffs. "We had two different games out there," said Renney. "We looked at what we had done well and what we want to take into the Tampa Bay game (tonight). Other than that, it was to draw a litle bit of a parallel to last year, just making sure we all yank on the same chain, that we're open and honest with each other, and that we use (our situation) as the ultimate team builder."

As the 45-minute practice concluded, four veterans---Drury, Jaromir Jagr, Brendan Shanahan and Scott Gomez---discussed the league's 23rd-ranked power play (a 13 percent success rate) among themselves. "We needed to get out here," said Drury, who said the foursome's gathering "was about positioning, communication, getting more detailed...about what to expect out of each guy."

To be sure, Renney expects more from each of his players, but is trying not to burn out, or lose, a team whose confidence level is sagging. "We're fighting our own demons right now in respect to our offense. It'll come. The big thing for our coaching staff is to support them any way we can." Still, Renney added, if there were more days off before Tampa Bay's visit, "You might have seen us work a little harder. We don't have any stairs around here."

When I suggested portable stairs, Renney said. "That's an idea."

****
A helmetless Jagr, who scored his second goal of the season Saturday, also was one of the last few players on the ice, taking Perry Pearn's passes from the corner to the left circle and snapping shots at backup goaltender Steve Valiquette.

****
Sean Avery (shoulder) did not skate. "We've really pushed him. It was a recovery day," said Renney....Martin Straka's finger, uncovered aftter being iced down, looked only slightly swollen. He didn't skate either....Ryan Callahan, looking wan, hobbled by wearing a large brace on his right leg...

****
FYI, my Sunday NHL column is back: http://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/ny-spzip285436178oct28,0,2825093.column

****
And finally, in a non-move that has been criticized here previously, the front office chose not to summon anyone from Hartford. "If someone were really prolific down there...but we're not sure that anyone who can come up right now would make that difference for us," Renney said. "We need to generate some offense; the sort of player who would join us would be a third- or fourth-line guy."

Hmm. Could there be any less offense from those two lines?

Tonight's 4-1 loss to the Leafs---punctuated by a continued lack of scoring and a nine-minute lapse in the second period---cost the Rangers a day off.

After the game, the team announced a practice at 11 a.m.

It's obviously getting worrisome.

Question: Unless coach Tom Renney experiments on the power play, teaches the lads how to score on rebounds, or shuffles lines again, will a practice result in more effort or more pressure?

Sure, the edict sends a message. Another message would be to call up Greg Moore from Hartford, who scored his fourth goal of the season last night. Last night's third line didn't generate many chances. He can also kill penalties, allowing a break for Drury and Shanahan.

I'd move Hollweg back to the fourth line as well, and give swingman Strudwick a seat

We were all gathered around the press room TVs here at MSG watching NESN as the Bruins' Patrice Bergeron lay motionless and was wheeled off on a gurney after a hit-from-behind boarding by the Flyers' Randy Jones.

Jones, of course, was tossed (game misconduct) and deservedly so.

Bergeron was going for the puck when he was splattered by Jones, who clearly had the option to not deliver a high hit,

Depressing.


.

Same lineup tonight against the Leafs, which means D Jason Strudwick swings up to forward again.

Leafs have one of the top offenses in the league so far---and one of the worst defenses.

Lundqvist, Jagr, Gomez and Shanahan skipped the optional skate, although Shanahan was on the bike in the workout room.

Sean Avery (shoulder) skated in a non-contact yellow jersey again and will be evaluated
by the doctors tonight. As a result, coach Tom Renney ruled him out for Monday night's visit by Tampa Bay.

Time for some XXX vitamin water and a sesame bagel breakfast.

More from the Garden later...

A transaction in which Darius Kasparaitis would play in Russia for SKA St. Petersburg has not been finalized, according to a Rangers spokesman.

The deal involving the veteran defenseman, who is earning about $3 million and has been playing for the AHL Hartford Wolf Pock, was reported in some Canadian papers.

International deals can be complicated, particularly with the Russian hockey federation. Kaspar wants to go and the Rangers wouldn't mind having an open spot in Hartford, but...we'll see.

Kasparaitis, 35, cleared waivers in late September and was assigned to Hartford in late September, effectively ending his five-year Rangers career. He recently has been sidelined with a broken nose.

The Lithuanian-born Kasparaitis, who lost 20 pounds in a conditioning program last summer, has said he was not ready to retire. He played 28 games in Russia for AK Bars Kazan during the lockout.

.....And coach Tom Renney cursed at players during practice today who he perceived as taking drills lightly.

Nice to see and hear.

Sean Avery skated in a yellow (non-contact) jersey, but is a week away.

Chris Drury, who blocked a shot with his foot during the 2-0 win, didn't skate, but Renney said that was due to a dental appointment.

Lost in all the words and videotape of the scoring drought and Henrik Lundqvist's outstanding play are the penalty-killers, who rank fifth or sixth in the league (checking on that).

That's the subject of my piece in tomorrow's paper, which will be here on newsday.com as well.

UPDATE: Thanks to all who read so carefully and corrected me. Last night, I thought I wrote Prucha's "first assist on Dawes' goal" and in my haste, wrote "first point and assisted on..." It happens on deadline when you're processing hundreds of words and numbers. I've fined myself $50.

Later...

Two goals.
A season-high six hits.
A game-high (with Chris Drury) five shots
Scott who?
It was Nigel's night.

"Dawes has one of the best shots on the team," said Henrik Lundqvist, the second star of last night's game, who extended his shutout streak to 99:16. "Not necessarily a heavy shot, but a quick release. I saw him last year and all this time this year in practice."

Dawes capitalized on a bench mishap, when Karel Rachunek's pass up ice near the Devils' bench was deflected as Johnny Oduya was coming off the ice and Andy Greene was coming on. Brendan Shanahan scooped it up and fed Dawes, who capitalized for one of the biggest goals of the season, one that gave the Rangers a much-needed lift at the 57-second mark.

"It was a terrible mistake to make in any kind of hockey game," said Devs coach Brent Sutter.

The speedy Dawes' second score gave him not only his first career multi-goal game, it was the first by any Ranger in the initial nine games of the season.

Said coach Tom Renney, in perhaps the exaggeration of 2007----and OK, he had to be happy with the win----"In the last five years, he (Dawes) probably scored 400 goals, all the way back to junior and being scouted there."

And let's not forget rookie Brandon Dubinsky, who won five of seven faceoffs and bulled his way down the right boards to set up Dawes' insurance marker in the third period.

"I don't think I expected anything different," said Dubinsky, who logged just 10:17, but 2:59 on the PP. "It was the same way these two teams have played for years."

Petr Prucha also notched his first assist, on Dawes' second goal.

The Rangers had 31 shots on Marty Brodeur (Gomez had two) and limited the Devils to 22 on Lundqvist.

Here's two great stats: In the last 11 periods, the Rangers have allowed 10 or fewer shots on Lundqvist.

No. 2: Dan Girardi, not even on the club at this point last season, led the team with 23:56 played. Think he's helped?

Not to overlook the PK, the Rangers have allowed just six goals in 48 shorthanded ops, sixth best in the league coming in.

More tomorrow....

Well, it's only one game, but I'm still scratching my head:

A team starving for goals puts a career defenseman (Jason Strudwick) on the fourth line and moves a center on the fourth line who rarely scores (Ryan Hollweg)...to off-wing on the third line.

I guess I can somewhat understand that a callup from Hartford---which likely will happen by Saturday because Ryan Callahan has been placed on IR----would play minimal minutes and that scoring is long overdue from the top two lines.

Especially Scott Gomez, returning tonight against his former club for the first time, Brendan Shanahan, who leads the league in shots but has one goal, and Chris Drury and
Jaromir Jagr, one goal each.

If I were GM, I wouldn;t have played it safe and given a kid a shot for a couple games. But because that hasn;t happened underscroes the importance of this game.

We'll all be watching, along with one other interested observer: Phoenix GM and former Ranger exec Don Maloney, who was spotted in the corridors.

I'm a little surprised that defenseman Thomas Pock cleared waivers at noon today.

You'd think that some team in need of d-help would want Pock, 25, at least for a third d-pair. Perhaps his $650,000 contract this season and $685,000 next season were a hindrance.

Have to assume that Pock was offered around in trades, and there were no takers. At least not now.

Presumably, Pock will report to the Hartford Wolf Pack. I believe that if recalled at some point, and then claimed in waivers----perhaps a stronger possibility----the Rangers would be responsible for half his remaining salary this year.

So, it appears veteran defenseman Jason Strudwick will skate with Blair Betts and Colton Orr tonight, and Ryan Hollweg will move up to the third line with Brandon Dubinsky and Nigel Dawes.

Although coach Tom Renney did not rule out a callup from Hartford for Saturday's game, he explained that the Strudwick move was made because "we have an idea of what they might put in the lineup tonight." Translation: bruisers.

Because Ryan Callahan is expected to miss more than a week and likely two, the option is there for a callup. "We do have some kids who are playing well down there," Renney said, but wouldn't put a percentage on the probability of another Wolf Pack player here for Saturday's visit by the Leafs.

Strudwick, who has been used sparingly as a swingman in the NHL, but didn't play forward last year in Switzerland, said it would be a challenge.

"As a defenseman, the play's always in front of you," he said. "You're more in the play as a forward, with guys all around you." Strudwick said he first recalled playing as a forward in the NHL with Vancouver, almost a decade ago, when in mid-game coach Marc Crawford sent him in.

Should know in a few minutes whether Thomas Pock cleared waivers and will report to Hartford. "Tom needs to play," said Renney.

FYI: the extra goaltender was Chad Killam, 26, a former Manhattanville College keeper.

In what qualifies as a strange decision, it appears no forward has been summoned from Hartford and D Jason Strudwick is working with the forwards at the optional skate.

A practice goaltender (unidentified at the moment) is here, however, as Henrik Lundqvist often skips these game-day skates.

About 15 skaters are here, including Sean Avery. Jaromir Jagr, in warmup suit and no helmet, skated alone earlier.

First screening tonight at MSG.

Initial reviews will be in, oh, about 9:30 p.m.

But before that, check back here for a report from the morning skate, which should provide an answer to the question of Ryan Callahan/Martin Straka's replacement. And whether D Thomas Pock has been claimed off waivers by noon.

(Andrea, yes, to avoid confusion with former Ranger Dom, I promise to refer to Greg Moore with a G in headlines here as often as possible in the future---if he is, in fact, called up now or later.)

And Rucchin, I can't imagine that Lundqvist will take a breather until the Rangers have a few more wins under their belts or until he surrenders a handful of goals. I guess there's some speculation that he'll rest on the second night of a back-to-back. The first is Nov. 6 against the Isles. Doubt it. The schedule is favorable enough that he could play 15 straight.

FYI, my NHL Sunday column resumes this week---hello, daylight savings time!---please
check it out in the paper or here on newsday.com. Also, we're planning to offer up occasional mid-week Rangers and Islanders Insiders---like the popular Giants and Jets Chalk Talks---soon, so look for that down the road, too.

In checking the message boards, I see that some knuckleheads unfortunately continue to demean others with personal attacks and by using vulgar and inappropriate comments, which violate Newsday's policies. They will be deleted, perhaps not as quickly as we would like, and further action is being discussed.

But generally, please ignore the silliness, have some patience (as Hank Steinbrenner is saying) and continue to stop by Blue Notes: On the Rangers Beat to get the latest news, updates and observations on the team, the NHL, and other global topics.

....with a grade 2 sprain of the knee, the team reports, but won't need surgery. Sounds like a partial tear. Grade 3 is far worse, Grade 1 less severe.

Callahan was injured during a collision with Nigel Dawes against Pitttsburgh. He hit the net and the boards after a third-period rush. He was in pain on the bench and an MRI today provided the answer.

Also, the Rangers confirmed that Marty Straka (finger) has been placed on injured reserve. I had earlier written that it was unclear whether he had been IRd.

So that means with the Pock waiver, the Rangers have 2 players on IR, one (Callahan) sidelined, and two goalies, seven defensemen and eleven healthy forwards. Somebody's coming from Hartford.

Four of the top nine forwards have missed or will miss some games: Avery (shoulder, still 7 to 10 days away), Straka (four weeks) and Hossa (groin, hip flexor, but back), and now Callahan, who probably will be out 7-14 days.

With RW Ryan Callahan almost certain not to dress tomorrow against the Devils (why take the chance, even if---best case---his knee is only slightly sprained), the Rangers should summon RWs Greg Moore or Alex Bourret from Hartford. My understanding is that Straka is not on IR and Pock or someone needed to be shipped down to make room for another forward on the 23-man roster. It wasn't gonna be Dawes.

Maybe Moore or Bourret can keep the momentum going on the third line.

Let's not mask the problem---and just-waived Pock isn't to blame for this dismal start, either---the stars are not shining.

1. Scott Gomez has three points in eight games. He had 10 (two goals and eight assists) with the Devils through seven games last season.

2. With the Sabres last season, Chris Drury had seven goals in seven games, as did Brendan Shanahan with the Rangers. Each has (and I don't need to rub it in) just one goal through eight games.

3. Jaromir Jagr's goal total---one---is the lowest ever through the first eight games in his 17-year NHL career. There are signs of life, but Jags needs to carry this team for a game or two. Unless he simply can't do that anymore, or is pacing himself for the rest of the season.

Home cooking may help.

The Rangers are 0-4-1 on the road, the first time in 54 years that they have gained no more than one point in the first five road games. A lead in the first period tomorrow at the Garden could get the crowd going and do wonders to snap the current schneid.

And let's not ignore Henrik Lundqvist, who---even in the Atlanta game when he stopped breakaways and 2 on 1s---is the MVP of this rocky start.

He is the first Rangers goaltender to start the first eight games of the season since 1968-69, when Ed Giacomin played 31 straight.

Lundqvist has a 2.00 goals-against-average (better than Luongo, Miller, Brodeur, Nabokov, Kiprusoff, Gerber and DiPietro to name a few) and a .927 save percentage in 481 minutes, the third-highest number of minutes played in the league.

Thomas Pock, the defenseman who signed two-year deal in April after a solid first-round playoff against the Thrashers, has been waived.

Pock, 25, publicly voiced some displeasure about being a healthy scratch for the first five games, looked rusty in the sixth and was benched for seven and eight.

If he clears waivers, he will presumably report to Hartford, but some team might
very well claim him at $650,000 per.

The move appears to be in response to a knee sprain suffered by Ryan Callahan in the third period of the Penguins game. Presumably, the Rangers will summon a forward from the Wolf Pack.

More to come....

For about seven minutes before the end of practice at Mellon Arena, coach Tom Renney and Jaromir Jagr huddled by the grease board attached to the glass, each using the marker and talking animatedly. Renney then wiped the board with a towel.

"I said, gimme the pen. Here's what we're gonna do. Don't worry," laughed Jagr as he sanded the shafts of his sticks in the corridor.

Asked if it was dangerous to let Jagr design plays, Renney said later: "At least I know where the shot's coming from."

The good news: There will be shots.

The lines:
Hossa-Gomez-Jagr
Prucha-Drury-Shanahan
Dawes-Dubinsky-Callahan
Hollweg-Betts-Orr

****

Jason Strudwick and Thomas Pock will be healthy scratches. Sean Avery (shoulder) skated with them post-practice and was timed by coaches Pelino and Pearn. Looked a little winded.

As he glided past some writers, he cracked: "Everyone can heave a big sigh of relief. I'm close."

Renney clarified that: "He's closer," but explained that as with all injuries, his preference was to not only look at the short-term---how a player can help a team win immediately---but the impact on a player's career should he return too quickly and re-injure himself.

****

If Martin Straka doesn't need an operation---and Renney indicated he was unaware that he would---it seems likely that eventually, when he has strength to grip a stick, some plastic device will be provided to cover the base of his right index finger, where the break occured when he blocked Zdeno Chara's slap shot in Boston.

****

The Rangers stressed driving to the net, with brisk 2-on-1 breakouts and a defenseman trailer....Dubinsky practiced faceoffs with Pelino...With the defensemen firing from the blue line, Shanahan circled in front of an empty net, deflecting shots in.

"It's an attack game, it's a game of intimidation," said Renney. "You don't intimidate with one guy attacking, you intimidate with as many as you possibly can, including the defensemen. The bottom line is we want to show and exhibit what speed we have and that, along with our skill level, should provide results for us. We've been doing that, but we haven't been doing that collectively enough."

****

In the Pens skate, D Sergei Gonchar uncorked five or six consecutive blasts past goalies Marc-Andre Fleury and Dany Sabourin, then rang two off the post.

****

"You never know when they're (the Rangers) gonna start getting three or four goals in a hurry," said C Maxime Talbot, one of the Pens' penalty-killers.

Talbot on Jagr: "You just try to contain him. If you go straight at him, like if you go straight at Sid, he'll go around you. I've played against him three years in the league and he's the hardest to defend. He's always looking at you and other players. He's skilled and smooth. When you open up, he's gonna make that play."

....from rainy Pittsburgh.

where the Igloo seems to be melting in the unseasonable October weather.

Could be a long finish to the three-game road trip this evening.

In eight games against the Pens last season, four went past regulation. The Rangers won one in regulation, one in OT and one in a shootout. The Pens won three in regulation, one in OT and one in a shootout.

Know I sound like a broken record, but Henrik Lundqvist simply must have an outstanding game for the Rangers---now minus Marty Straka---to escape with at least a point. Pens are 4-3, have scored 24 goals, but allowed 24.

Beyond the Staal vs. Staal story, keep your eyes on how the Rangers' kid line---Dawes-Dubinsky-Callahan---fares.

Walking over to the skate in a few. Will report back later.

Think I brought an umbrella? Nah.

Martin Straka, who broke a finger on his right hand blocking a Zdeno Chara shot from the point in Boston on Saturday, will be out an estimated four to five weeks, according to coach Tom Renney. Straka saw the doctor yesterday and won't have surgery.

That report comes from Newsday's Anthony Rieber, who covered practice this morning while I was keeping some appointments before leaving for Pittsburgh tonight.

Other items:

Marcel Hossa (hip flexor) skated with Jaromir Jagr and Scott Gomez and will play tomorrow after missing two games with the injury, which started as a groin strain.

Sean Avery skated on his own for the first time since a hit by Ottawa's Chris Neil separated his left shoulder in the first road game of the season on Oct. 6.

Tomorrow's game marks the first NHL appearance pitting brothers Marc and Jordan Staal, although they've faced each other in juniors.

The siblings poked some fun at each other during a conference call last week: "I believe I laid him out — I have a picture of it I can send," Marc said.

"It's definitely a lot different playing against a brother who is a defenseman and going down his wing," Jordan said. "Obviously this time I'm going to end up dangling him."

Actually, the second and third lines as a result of Straka's loss are intruiging:
Prucha-Drury-Shanahan and the youngsters who were Hartford teamates last season: Dawes-Dubinsky-Callahan.

Thoughts?

With Marty Straka (broken finger) out---no official word yet on how long, i'm guessing two to four weeks---the Rangers can:

1. Insert Marcel Hossa into the lineup on Tuesday, assuming his hip flexor continues to improve. Coach Tom Renney said he anticipated Hossa would be ready. Sean Avery (shoulder) is supposed to skate for the first time in two weeks tomorrow as well, although he is likely to be another two weeks away.

2. Get more size from Hartford, at least until Avery returns.

I haven't seen them play this season so far, but the logical choices are
either Greg Moore (2-2-4, plus 2 in 4 games) or Dane Byers 1-0-1, plus 3, 17 PIM.

Thoughts?

Be back later...

Marty Straka broke a finger on his right hand blocking a shot from Zdeno Chara while killing the four-minute power play in the first period....Unclear how long he'll be out

You'd think the seventh game of the season was a little early for a demand.
Not if your club is 2-4.

Tom Renney spoke with his veterans and from that, shaped the lines for tonight. "The discussions that I've had with a couple of my players certainly lead me to believe that this is the area that provides the most comfort. We're talking, we're doing some things that give people some semblance of confidence..."

Note: Shanahan and Straka are back with Drury: Dubinsky is back on the third line.

But enough about chemistry, Renney said.

Asked if players were talking too much about that issue, "Maybe a little bit...I'm guilty of it too. Sooner or later you've fish or cut bait. It's time to start to deliver on what we're capable of..."

Commitment and execution are what Renney wants.

If he had his way, the Rangers would have played yesterday.

"I wanna get playing,' he said. "We have to know where we are, and these gaps in-between force you to become redundant, We have to see exactly where we are. You have to play to know."

So, there's been enough practice?

"Yeah. It's time to implement," he said. "These guys are passionate and emotional about winning. That's all well and good. But it takes more than that, it takes execution and commitment to that execution to have success on the ice. We all talk about that and we all believe it, but in the heat of the moment, somehow its dissipates, We're a different team when we're ahead. We had a good start in our game in Atlanta, then it was 2-0, and a track meet. We just handed them two points. We have to have that offensive latitude. For me, defensive hockey is non-negotiable."

MSG play-by-play man Sam Rosen, listenening in, noted: "You sound pretty passionate...
Renney responded: "I'm a passionate guy right now."

Dawes-Gomez-Jagr
Straka-Drury-Shanahan
Prucha-Dubinsky-Callahan
Hollweg-Betts-Orr

Rozsival-Malik
Tyutin-Girardi
Mara-Staal

As you see, Malik is back, Pock is sitting, as is Hossa, but coach Tom Renney said Hossa's hip flexor is much improved. "He had a very good skate and will skate again tomorrow," he said, and anticipates that the left wing will play on Tuesday against the Penguins.

In his pregame discussion with reporters, an emphatic Renney basically said that the team had practiced enough and that it was time to deliver. I'll have his exact quotes here in a few....

well, specifically, Logan Airport. Did some research on the flight...

Since March 4, 2004, when the Bruins beat the Rangers 3-1, the Bs are 0-5-3 and have been outscored 31-12. Last year in Boston, the Rangers won 6-1 and 2-1 in a shootout.

If the Rangers lose and go 0-for-4 on the road, it would be the first time for such an opening stretch since 1998-99, when they were 0-2 with three ties.

And FYI, Michael Peca had a goal and assist last night for Columbus.

Only the extras are skating at TD BankNorth Garden this morning, so I'm headed to drop my bag at the hotel.

"Taxi!"