Blue Notes

Don't know exactly how it happened, but you all know by now that the Sean Avery cardiac arrest report was unfounded. Writers scrambled to get the accurate story shortly after we noticed that Avery wasn't on the ice at practice in Westchester. That was posted shortly afterward on newsday.com and elsewhere.

At this moment, Avery remains in St. Vincent's Hospital in stable condition for a lacerated spleen and will for at least a few days as doctors monitor for any more internal bleeding.

It's a tough blow for Avery; fans should hope his spleen doesn't have to be removed, because in doing so, a person becomes more vulnerable to infection, which could prove risky for a professional athlete, doctors say.

Hey, I've bristled at some of his comments and his penchant for refusing to speak after games and practices, but also enjoyed his shoot-from-the-hip quotes and inflated ego and dressing room by-play, which makes for fun copy and blog material.

And to be sure, he's contributed with goals and assists to knit together the string of wins at the end of last season and this one that resulted in the Rangers' playoff berths.

If Mr. Free Spirit signs with the Rangers next season---a contract that Glen Sather and Avery's agent, Pat Morris, still have to negotiate----we'll all expect more of the same.
If he doesn't, well, his personality will be missed--most days, anyway.

In the end, though, Blue Notes offers him best wishes, as some of the Penguins did today. Hope this setback doesn't affect his summer intership at Vogue or his career.

The Final Score boys debate the Blueshirts' chances.

It seems to happen every 33 years in the NHL. 1942, Leafs. 1975, Islanders.

A back-from-the-dead comeback from 0-and-3.

Just can't see it here.

The Penguins, confident and rolling, have beaten the Rangers three times in three different ways.

The Rangers will play for pride in a throw-caution-to-the-wind Game 4 tomorrow night in possibly the last dance in Rangers colors for Jaromir Jagr, Martin Straka and Brendan Shanahan, and to possibly avoid the ignominity of the handshake line on Garden ice.

But taking four straight against Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin & Co.---who I picked to win in seven games at the start of this series in Newsday's matchups---seems near-impossible.
Blame Ryan Hollweg for the criticial penalty, blame Henrik Lundqvist for not stealing a game, blame the 1-for-14 power play, but credit the deep Penguins, who arguably will win the East and possibly the Cup.

While the Rangers declined to fork over prospects and draft choice at the trade deadline, Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero---knowing that the Pens would have a dozen or more free agents this summer---went all in, and went all in wisely. Marian Hossa, with three playoff goals, was the sniper that every team could have used. Pascal Dupuis brought zest to Crosby's line. Hulking D Hal Gill bolstered the backline, and with Dupuis, added depth to the power play.

The Rangers front office brought in Christian Backman and Fred Sjostrom, nice players, good guys, but not the PP quarterback, crease-clearing defenseman or the power winger that the New Yorkers needed.

However this series shakes out, these teams will sport far different looks next season, You know about the Rangers vets and free agents such as Sean Avery, Michal Rozsival, Marek Malik and Paul Mara. The Pens need to re-sign Fleury and will probably lose a handful of players, including Hossa and perhaps one of the quality, tough young guys such as Ryan Malone and Brooks Orpik.

The difference is, the Penguins could have a Cup to sweeten the transition.
On their side, the Rangers have youth---they need size---and will be retooling for another run in the the Wild, Wild East, where Pittsburgh, Montreal, Washington, Philadelphia will be even more formidable and others will improve.

But that's longer-range thinking. Musings for the summer.

A morning skate looms. The Rangers will put up a brave front. But for these playoffs, after a 97-point regular season, the seventh-best in franchise history, the script seems written. Thirty-three years or not.

Welcome to Game 3. Mike Casey here to take you through the highs and lows of tonight's must-win game for the Rangers.

You can follow along with by-the-minute updates by clicking on the link below.

As expected, Ryan Hollweg in for Prucha.

"He hunts pucks down, he's good on contact," said Renney, signalling that in the critical game tonight, the Rangers will try to apply more pressure on the forecheck and play with an edge. "That would be my hope," said coach Tom Renney. "You've gotta take that to the rink."

Expect some shuffling in line combinations as well. Nothing was said, but we're speculating that the changes could possibly come among right wings, with Ryan Callahan and Fred Sjostrom moving up to the second and third lines and Shanahan dropping to four.

On the power play, he said, "we're close but we need to be much better against a team that has played well defensively...I believe we've yet to play our best hockey."

About the only thing surprising about the Penguins so far, Renney said, is "the amount of ice time Sidney's getting."

More soon...Staple's wearing his blog chapeau this evening, and Mark Herrmann has his eyes peeled for game-turning moments in what is sure to be a noisy little rink in about 90 minutes.

The press room is filling up, so some quick hits on tonight:

At home, the Rangers are 23-23 in Game 3s...

The last time the Rangers overcame a 2-0 playoff defecit was in 1996, when they came beat to beat Montreal in six...

Including the regular season, the Rangers are 9-1-3 at home coming into tonight...

Paul Devorski and Mike Leggo are the refs...

Jagr's eight assists are tied for the league lead.

Gomez and Avery have four playoff goals; Dubinsky has three...

In the two playoff games here at MSG the Rangers are 3-for-9 on the power play (against the Devils); they were 1-for-9 in Pittsburgh.

For Pittsburgh, Gary Roberts is a healthy scratch...

Hmmm.

It appears as if tonight the Rangers are returning to the same lineup that ousted the Devils, with Colton Orr, Petr Prucha, Marek Malik and Jason Strudwick as healthy scratches. Coach Tom Renney didn't acknowledge that, but those four were on the ice long after the optional practice ended.

With Ryan Hollweg in, that would be the third slightly different lineup against the Penguins. Orr and Prucha each played a game in Pittsburgh on the fourth line.

And as suggested yesterday, Paul Mara will see time on the point on the power play.

Told that Pens coach Michel Therrien spoke to the referees after the first period in Game 2 about some Rangers, including Brendan Shanahan, invading the crease against Marc-Andre Fleury, Renney smiled. “Really? I didn’t know you could do that...It's playoff hockey. Whatever...Let him think what he wants."

Renney did acknowledge that more pressure was "probably on us. It's a big swing game."

Among the absentees in the skate: Gomez, Drury, Straka, Rozsival and Lundqvist (David LeNeveu from Hartford replaced him). Shanahan and Avery skated and Jagr loosened up afterward.

More from MSG later...

If case you haven't read it, Pens coach Michel Therrien can't help but react to the Rangers. At his presser yesterday in Pittsburgh, which I covered, the gamesmanship rolled on...

Here's my story from today's editions:

BY STEVE ZIPAY | steve.zipay@newsday.com
April 29, 2008

PITTSBURGH - Sniping and gamesmanship don't have a day off during an increasingly testy Eastern Conference semifinal series in which the verbal sparring began before the puck was dropped.

Penguins coach Michel Therrien laughed aloud when told yesterday that after Game 2, Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist said the pressure was on Pittsburgh to win Games 3 and 4 at Madison Square Garden. After composing himself, Therrien suggested that Lundqvist was attempting to take the onus off the Rangers, who are down two games to none in the best-of-seven series, which resumes tonight.

"You know what? Pressure? They got pressure, we got pressure. If a team doesn't want to take the pressure, that's up to them," Therrien said after the Penguins' practice at Mellon Arena. "They want to win and we want to win. I'm not buying into those things -- they got the pressure or we got the pressure. Hey, c'mon, this is playoffs. This is something more for the fans and the media to take away the pressure [from them]. I know our team will be ready and I know the Rangers will be ready, but please ..."

Therrien had said he was "disappointed" in Rangers coach Tom Renney and players for raising the issue of alleged embellishment by Sidney Crosby to draw penalties and declared "enough is enough." Yesterday he brought another element into the fray: crease-crashing.

During his short media session, Therrien revealed that he had spoken to referees after the first period about Brendan Shanahan and other Rangers obstructing Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

At one point in the first period, Shanahan briefly appeared to back into the left side of the crease and raise his stick to block Fleury's view - while facing the play - but no contact appeared to be made. Late in the game, Sean Avery was buried in front by defenseman Hal Gill, who received a crosschecking penalty. And Fleury admitted to smacking Avery in the legs to keep him out of the crease.

"They tried to put pressure on Marc-Andre, they tried to get in the crease, and we discussed it with the referees; they're not supposed to stand there and if there's a goal, it's not a goal," Therrien said. "It's tough to give penalties if they're really close to the crease, but if Fleury's in the crease and he can't play the puck, it's no goal. This is what the referees told us.

"I noticed what Shanahan did. Guys with experience, they try to find that line, and I addressed it with the referees. They were saying that they were going to pay attention, there's no doubt, you can't obstruct the goalies."

Therrien said the Penguins, who lost three games at the Garden in regulation in the regular season, didn't play well at the Garden until the fourth game, a 2-1 overtime loss March 31.

"I thought we played a really good game the last time," Therrien said. "It could've gone both ways with the overtime. I liked the way we competed that last game. But regular season and playoffs are a quite different atmosphere."

The Penguins are undefeated in the postseason but aren't bragging. "Six-and-oh doesn't really mean anything," said Crosby, who received an earful from Jaromir Jagr during one stoppage in Game 2 and sensed the animosity growing. "We know it doesn't get any easier. They'll feed off their crowd and they're going to be more intense."

Just as Jagr is booed mercilessly here, Crosby fully expects the same treatment in New York. "I wouldn't be surprised," he said.

****
So there you have it. I'm leaving for the morning skate. Check back here for possible lineup changes/shuffling, then a pre-game report from the Garden.

Those are the two geniuses that Jaromir Jagr "quoted" today after practice. One reporter tried to get Jagr to discuss the wisdom he relayed to Brandon Dubinsky from Stevens, the former Penguin, former Ranger and all-around goof who, apparently, guaranteed a Penguins comeback from a 2-0 series deficit once upon a time.

"I told (Dubinsky) something, but I was lying," Jagr said when pressed on what words he took from Stevens, known as "Artie" in his playing days. And now, too, I guess.

The Einstein stuff was similarly made up, and not quite exciting enough to retell here.

As for actual work from the Rangers today, Paul Mara took Christian Backman's spot at the first-unit PP point. In fact, Backman was the seventh defenseman during practice, paired with Marek Malik, while Jason Strudwick worked with Mara.

Brendan Shanahan was still on the second-unit PP, but he was a fourth-liner today in practice, with Petr Prucha alongside Scott Gomez and Sean Avery. Renney cautioned not to read too much into it, but Mara seems a good bet to have some PP time, given that he, you know, actually shoots the puck from time to time.

That is all from the Rangers for today. Zip will (hopefully) return from Pittsburgh, ready to chronicle tomorrow's morning skate before I live-blog the joint up for Game 3.

I've got an afternoon flight out of rainy Pittsburgh, so I'll stop by the Penguins practice and give you the lowdown on the atmosphere and the aftermath of Game 2. My colleagues Arthur Staple and Mark Herrmann will catch up with the Rangers at noon in New York. So we've got you covered from all angles. Hope you read my two pieces and a notebook on Game 2 today, mostly centering on special teams and the Rangers' eyeing Game 3.

In the interim, some thoughts on Game 3:

1. Rangers better have a lead going into the third period at MSG. Pens were 36-1-3 when ahead after two periods in the regular season, and that 1-2-2 trap looked good Sunday.

2. Don't expect an overcompensation on defense, which I believe the Rangers did on Sunday. They will attack and attack on Tuesday.

3. Henrik Lundqvist allowed just five Penguins goals (on 92 shots) in the four regular-season games at the Garden. He will need a stellar performance this week for the Rangers to nail one game and/or even the series and send it back here, which I think will happen.

More later....

4:43

Scuderi skips one off the boards and in with 16.7 left for a 2-0 Pens win and series lead. Renney gets poor marks for not using his time out before the PP, and then not putting at least one forward at the point when Lundqvist came off. Tyutin and Girardi aren't the puck-movers.

So, the Rangers have gone from three goals up midway through Game 1 to a two-game deficit heading home on Tuesday.

This was not a terrible game for the Rangers, neither was Game 1. But their defensemen are getting outworked and outhustled by the Pens forwards -- not just Crosby and Malkin, but Jordan Staal, Tyler Kennedy and Adam Hall.

Oh, and Avery got in some nonsense there, exchanging whacks with Fleury and then having Gill and Laraque smother him... Doubt that'll matter much on Tuesday, unless the Pens are coasting.

4:37

And there's another break for the Rangers. Gill squashes Avery, but I'm pretty sure Avery was already rubbing pads with Fleury. If the Rangers lose this one, or at least fail to tie, no one to blame but themselves with two power plays in the final six minutes. Should end up being a 6-on-4 at some point with Lundqvist pulled in a minute or so.

4:35

Not a break, there, obviously. Fleury never had full control, and the puck was skittering behind his pads when O'Halloran blew it dead. Power play didn't generate much, once again. Reminiscent of the standing-around drought the Rangers had late in the season.

4:30

May be the break the Rangers need -- Sykora clips Girardi with the high stick right in front of an official. Girardi lifted the stick initially, but there's the call nonetheless.

4:24

Bad job in the defensive zone by Gomez's line, with Backman and Mara. Rangers' D looks weary, especially in the offensive zone, where they're trying to make plays instead of trying to shoot pucks.

4:19

Well, shows you how good a coach I'd be -- Gomez uses some open ice and lax PP play by the Pens to generate a couple chances and some confidence, which carries over to Jagr's line on the first shift at even strength. Jagr had the puck alone in front for a split second, but couldn't go backhand-forehand fast enough.

4:15

Bad turnover in the neutral zone leads to a quick transition and another Pens PP, with Betts rightly called for a slash on Kennedy. Rangers would be best served by not doing too much except dumping it out to stay within a goal.

4:12

Solid kill, but the Rangers were looking sluggish before that. Good shift from Jagr's group, has to continue.

4:08

Accidental play by Girardi, but bank on the Pens going for the kill on this PP.

As surmised here yesterday, right wing Petr Prucha will make his first playoff appearance this afternoon, subbing for Colton Orr on the fourth line with Blair Betts and Fred Sjostrom.

No other changes.

"Petr is really, really hungry, I sort of see it in his eyes..." said coach Tom Renney. "I liked his game against these guys, He's done a good job, he's got a good touch... It gives us a little more quickness, a little more speed and I like the second and third effort."

Prucha had one assist in seven games against the Pens this season. Before this seaosn, he had four goals and five assists in 16 games against Pittsburgh.

Worthwhile article on Sean Avery in Toronto Sun with comments from his dad Al and former coach. Having trouble posting link, but you can google the headline: "What Makes Sean Avery Tick?"

More later....

Courtesy of the good folks at whowins.com, we present some fine stats regarding Game 1. Thanks to them.

In the history of best-of-7 NHL playoff games from 1939 through 2007,
inclusive, home teams (such as Pittsburgh) that trail by three goals 8:12 into the second period had a historical game record of only 4-78 (.049). Historically, then, there was but a 4.9% chance that the Penguins would prevail in Game 1.

***
Once before had the Penguins in Pittsburgh fallen behind 3-0, but
won a best-of-7 playoff game 5-4: In 1992 NHL Finals Game 1, the
eventual champion Penguins did so over the Chicago Blackhawks.

***

Pittsburgh scored one pair of goals 14 seconds apart and a
second pair of goals 20 seconds apart. In the history of best-of-7 NHL
playoff series from 1939 through 2007, inclusive, only once before had a
team scored two pairs of goals with the time between goals 20 seconds or
less in each pair:
In 1984 Stanley Cup Finals Game 3, the eventual champion
Oilers accomplished the feat in Edmonton against the four-time defending
champion New York Islanders. Edmonton scored its goals at 19:12 and 19:29
into the second period (17 seconds apart) and at 5:32 and 5:52 into the
third period (20 seconds apart) to turn a 2-2 game into a 6-2
lead. Edmonton would win 1984 NHL Finals Game 3 by a 7-2 score for a
2-games-1 series lead, which the Oilers would soon win 4-games-1.

Before Friday night, the Rangers hadn't allowed five goals in regulation since the infamous 6-5 overtime loss to Montreal on Feb. 19, a span of 20 regular-season and five playoff games.

So naturally, after watching video of the mistakes by a team defense that was "fragmented" and didn't play well without the puck, in Brendan Shanahan's words this afternoon, the message was: We've got to tighten up.

But we all figured that. The news is that Petr Prucha----who has played well against Pittsburgh, according to coach Tom Renney---could play in Game 2 on a line with Blair Betts and Fred Sjostrom, a trio that practiced together this morning.

When I asked Renney about Prucha, the coach said he was still contemplating that, but since there won't be another practice before tomorrow's matinee, I'm figuring he'll dress.

Prucha, who has yet to make a playoff appearance, had just one assist in seven games against the Pens this season, but certainly has speed, and "a touch", as Renney said. That would mean Ryan Hollweg and Colton Orr are scratched. Will Prucha be rusty? The Czech right wing has played in six games since Feb. 10.

Renney, by the way, declined to get in any back-and-forth about Therrien's comments on Crosby earlier, as I surmised.

Your thoughts?

More later....

PITTSBURGH----The news conference was winding down and Martin Straka's critical third-period interference penalty on Sidney Crosby wasn't rehashed.

So Penguins coach Michel Therrien today took it upon himself to unload and perhaps ignite a war of words.

"Where I'm kind of disappointed, that there's this gamesmanship happening before this series about Sidney drawing peanlties," Therrien began. "I'm kinda disappointed, this is a star player that plays into traffic, a powerful skater.... and we all know what (Rangers coach) Tom Renney is trying to do, he tried to do it before we started before the series, and I see his comment today."

In postgame remarks last night, Renney didn't directly respond to questions about the call that led to the power play during which Crosby's shot deflected off Evgeni Malkin's leg for the game-winner. At one point, he paused and thought, then said "Next question." He later said, "Draw your own conclusions."

But back to Therrien. "He's trying to get the attention of the referees, he complained about the penalty at the end of the game, where as far as I'm concerned, as far as we're all concerned, it's not even close. In the 1990s I could understand; they let those things go. With the new game, it's about speed, it's about to make sure good players get the chance to make plays...That's why you get young players dominate the way they dominate in the National Hockey League.

"We know what he's trying to do, but I'm convinced the referees don't buy into those things, the league doesn't buy into those things. Why don't we give credit to a guy that plays into traffic, who get a shot in face in the first period by Avery. Sometimes that's gonna be a penalty, sometimes you're not gonna get a penalty, but he's going to keep going. He's not gonna go to the outside, that's the way he is, He's not gonna take the easy road...but the tough road to try to succeed. And yesterday on that play, he tried to get a step on him (Straka) and if he didn't get hooked, he was probably going to go on a breakaway. I'm kinda disappointed he complained about it. "

Asked if he thought the insinuations showed a lack of respect for Crosby, Therrien said: "Enough is enough."

Let's clarify one thing: replays show that Scott Gomez had already dived to break up the play in the middle of the ice across the Rangers blue line and the collision between Straka and Crosby occurred behind the play and on the right side. A breakaway? Not really.

On more mundane matters, Don't expect any major changes in the Pens lineup. Gary Roberts (groin) remains day-to-day..

We'll hear from the Rangers and Renney in a hour...

Actually, the Rangers won't be on the ice until 1:30 p.m; the Pens will inhabit the Igloo about 11 a.m. Will report from there.

But first, you've already read reams about Sid the Kid's "diving" and there's plenty more coming from perches far and wide.

Listen, Crosby played hard every shift. Personally, I believe the problem, as we've written before, is the inconsistent zebras, who often work in fear of the NHL bosses. (By the way, why didn't Kerry Fraser make the cut for this round?) Call me foolish, but shouldn't the players be allowed to play the entire game? It's the timing---on judgment calls---that's questionable.

There's no doubt that the Rangers lost Friday night because their defense couldn't clear pucks or adequately cover speedy and more physical Pens in their zone. There, is however, the matter of timing.

Brendan Shanahan, in his post-game remarks, critiqued both the refs and Sidney Crosby for the Straka interference call that led to the winning goal: “I think it’s a weak call at that time in the game. Sidney embellished and you could make the call that he was interefering with Martin Straka. It’s too bad it had to happen to a guy like Martin Straka. He’s such an honest, hard-working player… I think it was a tough call for the referee to make at that time in the game.”

Remember, the Rangers lost 5-2 to the Sabres in the East semifinals opener last season and took the series to six. Can they need to win two of the next three? Certainly possible. But the Penguins have to be a little more confident at this point.

The Penguins are 7-2 all time at home in the playoffs against the Rangers and 6-1
on the road. Two of their playoff games had gone to overtime, both times here in 1992, with each team winning once.

Before I finish off breakfast, one other thing that didn't make the paper last night for want of space:

The brothers Staal, in their first playoff game against each other, had three assists. Rookie Marc, playing on the Rangers' No. 1 defense pair with Michal Rozsival, contributed two, his first assists in the post-season; Staal's younger brother, Jordan, set up Jarkko Ruutu's goal off Rozsival that cut the lead to 3-1.

Swing by later for more....

For the Rangers, it's the biggest game of the season coming up Sunday.
Better get some B-12 and an injection of D, as in defense. Could have been 3-0 Pens early.

****
He didn't score, took only two shots and drew two penalties---yet was named the first star of the game. He's Sidney Crosby. He could've had a goal on one of those shots, when he was robbed by Henrik Lundqvist, though. I thought Sykora, Hossa, Malkin and Malone played pretty darn well, too.

****

Here's Jagr on Straka's third-period penalty, which Crosby drew by stumbling: "I cannot comment on that. I didn't see it I don't know what happened." Then, he says, "I was expecting something like that."

***

Staal was the top defenseman for the Rangers, even though Rozsival had three assists.
Girardi, minus-2, Tyutin, minus-2, were crummy.

****

Let's see how easy this one is to forget for the Rangers. They spoke a lot about memory loss. They have been resilient all year. We'll see.

9:38

The right post preserves the win for the Pens. Jagr fluttered one off the pipe, 5-4 Pens, 1-0 in the series. Excellent job by the Pens to rally from three down, some breakdowns by the Rangers, some bad bounces, and ice that makes the MSG ice during circus week look like a clean sheet in downtown Edmonton in December.

Back with you Sunday for Game 2. Is Crosby still a whiner/diver? Does he get preferential treatment? Wonder if that'll be brought up after this one

9:36

Rangers net is empty, assuming they'll use the timeout here. And apparently the Penguins official scorer left his seeing-eye dog at home, because the goal was given to Crosby. And I'm not quite sure that goal should count, but the rules keep changing on those.

9:33

Hold. The. Phone. Malkin clearly turned his left leg, which is the leg the puck went in off.... But it counts.

9:32

But there it is, a big drive by Crosby with some space, and it hits Malkin in the leg and goes in. Third puck off something other than a stick behind Lundqvist. 1:41 left.

9:31

Did Girardi block that with his face? Sheesh. Another lucky play, with everyone overplaying Crosby.

9:29

There's the PP for the Pens, with Straka getting the interference call after Gomez fanned on the shot from the point. 3:20 left... And what a surprise! Crosby was the one who stumbled to draw the call!

9:26

Rangers cycling all four lines, Pens really only mixing in either their third or fourth line behind the top two... Could make a difference down these final minutes.

9:23

Now it's a matter of who blinks first, system-wise. First breakdown loses it.

9:19

What a save by Lundqvist on Crosby -- how do the Rangers leave him all alone in front? And Tytuin with another beautiful hip check along the boards... Gomez line is having serious problems in its own zone. Michel Therrien wants Crosby out there against Gomez every time.

9:17

And looky looky... Great play by Jagr, and not such a great play by Sid to pick up the trailer, Gomez, with a perfect shot over Fleury. 4-4, 9:56 left. Rangers just do not enjoy trailing in these playoffs.

9:11

Decent shift by the fourth line to press a faceoff in the Pens zone. The ice has got to be absolute slush by now, so it'll be all about forechecking and pinching rather than using speed.

Pens can play some D too.

9:09

Bad mistake by Gomez's line, with the turnover pinning all three forwards deep. Great play in tight by Malkin to Sykora for the slam dunk, and it takes 20 seconds this time for Pittsburgh to take the lead, 4-3. Rangers needed to be patient, and they weren't, right after another bank-shot goal.

They need their own luck to turn this around.

9:07

Hossa had been whiffing on a bunch of chances set up by Crosby, but he ties it by banking a blind shot off either Girardi or Gomez. 15:20 left, all square.

9:02

Crosby creates a ridiculous chance for Dupuis, with both Rangers D going to the corner and Dupuis all alone in front. Looked like he wanted to skate to the side or something. Very bad breakdown for the Rangers in the first 90 seconds of the third.

Welcome to the semis (in the East)

In this round, locker rooms are jammed with media, so players and coaches are brought to a podium to ease the congestion. As in other arenas, in the aging but classic Igloo, a curtained area with podium and folding chairs is set up next to a working-press room with long tables on ice level not far the from the Rangers locker room. First Sidney Crosby, then Michel Therrien and finally Tom Renney held court there.
So much has been said and written in the past week; here's a pastiche of the fresh stuff:

***
Renney on the decision to insert Colton Orr, whose broken toe has healed, for Ryan Hollweg on the fourth line: "It's time. This is a big, strong team. We feel Colton can get in on the forecheck. I don't think we lose anything at all and think we gain a little bit by his size."

Crosby, asked if he's changed his game after accusations of diving: "No. I never dove; I don't, so this is part of the playoffs, part of the gamesmanship. If I go down, it's because I've been forced down. If not, I'll fnd a way to stay on my feet. I think he should be the one worried about guys diving.”

Pens have juggled d-pairs: It's Gonchar-Orpik; Gill-Scuderi, Letang-Whitney...

***

Crosby on Avery: "He's not gonna change what I do. He's gonna be a tough guy to play against. That's what he prides himself on....If he expects to talk to me, he'll be doing all the talking, not me...If he's gonna do something stupid, it's up to the refs to make that call and make sure he's penalized for it."

Therrien on Avery: "There's a fine line to be aggressive and being undisciplined. He's gonna do his thing. They've got some dangerous players who've you've got to focus on and we don't want to have any distractions. This is what he's looking for and we're gonna have to keep our focus. What goes around, comes around....If they want to target our best players, we’re ready. And I’m sure those type of players are always ready for this. But in the meantime, we’re going to target their best players as well.”

Goaltender Marc Andre-Fleury on Avery: "I'll try not to get involved with him. Skate away."

***

Jagr, before his first playoff series as an opponent at Mellon Arena: "I got a lot of good memories, the fans, the building, it's where I learned to play hockey." Told that Petr Sykora, who rents Jagr's suburban house here, reported that the place is overrun with ants. Said Jagr: "He's not scoring right now, maybe he can do some work. He's a good guy; if he has some problems with the house, I'm gonna go and fix it."

"We just have to pepper the net like we did with (Ottawa's Martin) Gerber, our game plan doesn't change," said Ryan Malone, who I noticed sports a large, Dead-like, skulls-and-roses tattoo above his left knee. "Shoot and crash the net, that's what playoff hockey is. If you wind up for a shot at the point and they go down you've got to keep your head up and skate around them."

Malone on the ice: "Nothing compares to the Winter Classic (outdoor ruts and slush); it was in bad shape, but the ice was better today, we're both gonna have to play on it, so there's no excuses."

More from the rink later...

It looks like Colton Orr will be back in the Rangers lineup tonight after missing the entire Devils series with a broken foot. To make room for Orr, Ryan Hollweg seems the likely scratch along with Malik, Strudwick and Prucha. That would put Orr on the Blair Betts-Fredrik Sjostrom line.

In other news, Gary Roberts is out for Pittsburgh. He had missed Games 3 and 4 of the Pens' first-round series against Ottawa with a groin injury. Former Ranger Adam Hall will skate in his place.

Sid the Kid had this to say about diving: "I don't dive. I never dive. The only way I'm going down is if I'm forced down."

We'll see tonight...

The Final Score boys debate Rangers-Penguins.

This from the AHL: The 10-man Rangers taxi squad, who will practice in Westchester and get a feel for the playoff atmosphere...

04/24/2008 Andrew Hutchinson (D) Hartford DEL Recalled from loan by NY Rangers(NHL)
04/24/2008 Artem Anisimov (C) Hartford DEL Recalled from loan by NY Rangers(NHL)
04/24/2008 Bobby Sanguinetti (D) Hartford DEL Recalled from loan by NY Rangers(NHL)
04/24/2008 Brodie Dupont (LW) Hartford DEL Recalled from loan by NY Rangers(NHL)
04/24/2008 Corey Potter (D) Hartford DEL Recalled from loan by NY Rangers(NHL)
04/24/2008 Dane Byers (LW) Hartford DEL Recalled from loan by NY Rangers(NHL)
04/24/2008 David LeNeveu (G) Hartford DEL Recalled from loan by NY Rangers(NHL)
04/24/2008 Greg Moore (C) Hartford DEL Recalled from loan by NY Rangers(NHL)
04/24/2008 Lauri Korpikoski (LW) Hartford DEL Recalled from loan by NY Rangers(NHL)
04/24/2008 Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau (RW) Hartford DEL Recalled from loan by NY Rangers(NHL)

So on the cab ride from the airport, the traffic headed downtown was so heavy, the driver peeled off and cut through suburban Montour and Stowe Township, where I saw a 7-11 with a sign stretched completely across the roof: "Sidney Crosby Big Gulp Collectors' Cup."

Nah, didn't tell him to pull over.

I did see two kids dive as they came out the door. Coincidence?

****

Two thoughts from the easy chair in the hotel:

Horrible finish for the Flyers, who couldn't hold on. But Montreal did not impress.

Colorado can still come back against Detroit in that series; they had just 21 shots.

***
I'll report on both Rangers and Pens from the AM skates, Make sure you swing by.

Thanks for the unsung hero choices, all good. Except for Mr. Who Cares, who didn't comprehend that the reference to Lupul was as a unsung hero for his Game 7 OT goal for Philly. Why I even bother.....
Memo: Ask the front office to start deleting more of the blockheads.

****
Almost forgot, I'll be taping an interview on Rangers-Pens with WFAN shortly that'll run sometime in the next few hours.

Sweet dreams all...

On the road to rock 'n' roll
There's a lot of wreckage in the ravine
Some you recognize
Used to hang out on the scene
On the road to rock 'n' roll
We'll be in the delta by and by
And if you don't believe in good and evil
You can tell the devil why....

----Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros

The sand's running through the hourglass: Finally time to head to Pittsburgh. Beats the drive to Newark.
Arthur Staple will cover for me at practice today; I'll be at LaGuardia, waiting for a plane.
My matchups and a piece on Marc and Jordan Staal are here and here, if my pals at dot.com oblige...

Didn't have space for this yesterday, but after practice, Jaromir Jagr compared Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to Mario Lemieux and the league then and now:

"I don’t think they’re better than him and I say that with all respect to them because the game has changed. The thing is, the gap between the best players and the worst players on a team is small compared to what it was. The gap between Mario and the rest of the guys when I was Pittsburgh was huge. He was able to score 20 points in one playoff series. I don’t think those kids are able to do that. Maybe I’m wrong and if I’m wrong I’m going to apologize and tell them, ‘Great job.’ But that’s the difference between the 90s and the teams I played on and today. He was able to win hockey games by himself. I remember some games we won 6-5 and he scored six points. The next game we won 5-3 and he scored five points. But the league has changed. You can do it once in a while, but not every night like him.”

Going to be a busy weekend; expecting thunderstorms in Pittsburgh tomorrow and Saturday. Keep those unsung heroes from the last post coming and ask any questions you'd like. Game 1 only on Versus, 2 on NBC. I'm thinking home-ice advantage will be a major factor and unless the Rangers can end it in six, it's the Pens in seven. Wouldn't complain if the Rangers prove me wrong, though. Montreal in the spring is very cool and Philly's just a drive...

On the other series (and we welcome your thoughts) , I'm thinking Montreal in six, San Jose in seven and something tells me Colorado, in an upset, in six. What the heck. Time for my boot heels to be wandering. Will check in later...

Plenty of superstars in Pittsburgh and Manhattan.
But I'm thinking this series may turn on an overtime goal, a shortie or a deflection by a player just outside the limelight
Joffrey Lupul anyone?
How about Nigel Dawes? Maxime Talbot? Dan Girardi? Tyler Kennedy?
While I wrap up my page of matchups and a story for tomorrow's paper, finish packing and consider what colors we may paint the house and shutters and windowboxes (the sanders and power-washers were humming today), please throw out some names and scenarios.
Game 1 will be big; Tom Renney thinks both teams won't be as rusty as writers believe. Pens have won 10 in a row at home. A Rangers win could affect the confidence of both sides.
Anyway, I'm thinking Dawes is due.
I'll check back in later...

Here we go....

Friday, April 25, 7 PM NY Rangers at Pittsburgh

Sunday, April 27, 2 PM NY Rangers at Pittsburgh

Tuesday, April 29, 7 PM Pittsburgh at NY Rangers

Thursday, May 1 7 PM Pittsburgh at NY Rangers

*Sunday, May 4 2 PM NY Rangers at Pittsburgh

*Monday, May 5 7 PM Pittsburgh at NY Rangers

*Wednesday, May 7 TBD NY Rangers at Pittsburgh

*if necessary

The Rangers need a split at Mellon, because they've controlled the Pens at MSG. Lundqvist will have to outplay Fleury, PK will need to step up. I'm guessing Orr will play at some point to counter Ruutu and Roberts.

At least nobody will be burning cars as in Montreal. I was starting to worry about where I would park the rental. Ah well, maybe next round.

Sharks up 5-3 as we speak.

Predictions? East, West?

Until tomorrah...

...the Rangers will find out where the playoff breeze takes them tonight: across the border to Montreal or north and west to Pittsburgh.

***
Power plays and PK were the order of the day at practice. Video reviews tomorrow when the next task is defined. My story for tomorrow will take a first crack at assessing the matchup.

***
Nothing's official, but if Montreal faces the Rangers, the logical scenario is that the first two games would be Thursday and Saturday nights; Pittsburgh-Rangers Friday night and Sunday afternoon.

***
My humble observation that this year's edition of the Rangers seems calmer and more circumspect heading into the next round than last year was seconded by Brendan Shanahan, other players and Tom Renney. "We were ready, but I'm we not sure what we were ready for," the coach said.
"We gave Buffalo pretty good motivation for Game 1---by shooting our mouths off a little bit," said Shanahan, who acknowledged that the team had been excited with the first opening round win since the lockout after sweeping the Thrashers. After beating the Devils, "there wasn't as much of a celebratory feel."

***
Marc Staal is ready for the Staal vs Staal questions if the Penguins are the opponent and he squares off against brother Jordan.
"Sure would be convenient for my parents. But I don't know what they would do (in their seats). Do they cheer for both teams? Do they not react at all?," he wondered, while making a placid face and pretending to sit on his hands.

****

Whenever Hartford is eliminated, Renney said some players would be added to go along for the rest of the ride.

****
The taped Letterman appearance with Chris Elliott? One chuckle, but pretty contrived and forgettable. Did the writers go back on strike?

Back for more in a few hours...

Not the optimal draw.

If Flyers win Game 7 Tuesday in D.C., it's Rangers-Pens on Thursday or Friday in Steel City.
If Caps win Game 7, it's bye-bye Philly and for yours truly, bonjour, Montreal, on Thursday or Friday.

Too bad about the Bs, just not enough scoring.

Rangers skate at 11. We'll be there...

OK folks, as promised, we're back...

The Vezina Trophy is awarded to the best goaltender during the regular season, and although Henrik Lundqvist has been nominated for the third straight campaign, if he had his druthers, Henrik ---an uncl