The New York Rangers will be seeking some more home cooking when they host the Boston Bruins in Game 3 on Tuesday night.
The Blueshirts posted a 16-6-2 record at home during the regular season and they went 3-0 in their own building against the Washington Capitals in the first round of the playoffs. "All through the year and during the playoffs, it's been good to us," coach John Tortorella said. "We've won games here. That's what we have to do -- not win two at home. We need to win one game at home. And that's our total focus. [Home ice] helps us. As you see through the playoffs, it helps. We're anxious to get going."

Rick Nash played on three different lines in Sunday's loss to Boston and John Tortorella plans to play him "a lot" as the series shifts to New York for Games 3 and 4.
Armed with the last change it should make it easier to get Nash away from Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, who always draws the assignment to shut down the opposition's best. Nash scored his first goal of the playoffs on Sunday and the Rangers are hoping he can get on a bit of a roll now.

Henrik Lundqvist is not happy with his performance from Game 2's loss to Boston, so we should see a motivated Rangers goaltender in Game 3 Tuesday night as New York attempts to get back into the series.
"It's disappointing to give up five goals, but also positioning-wise and reading plays for the most part was good," Lundqvist said. "It's just they made some good plays, too. There were some unlucky bounces and screens. I could probably find excuses for the goals, but that's not going to help my game. I just have to try to do better and work even harder to see pucks."

Marc Staal (eye) took to the ice with the Rangers' practice squad on Monday.
He engaged in contact drills during the session. Staal's return to the lineup is still cloudy, but it's good to see him back on the ice after he took several days off to presumably rest.

Darroll Powe (undisclosed) skated with the team's practice squad Monday.
He participated in the contact drills as well, which is a positive sign. Powe has been sidelined with what is suspected to be a concussion since Game 3 of the opening round against Washington. His status is uncertain for Game 3 versus Boston.

Carl Hagelin doesn't believe he "stinks" on the power play, contrary to what coach John Tortorella told the media on Saturday.
"For me, I definitely don't think I stink on the power play," Hagelin said in his defense. "That's the only comment I have on the PP." He received 46 seconds of man advantage time in Sunday's loss to Boston and felt he generated a couple of good chances.

Henrik Lundqvist said his shoulder issue is "under control" when he spoke to the media after Monday's practice.
"Yeah, it's under control," he said "I landed on the ice awkwardly and hurt it a little bit. It's under control. Everybody's sore. It's the playoffs. You can't sit out (because) it's hurting a little bit. it happens and you just have to make sure you do the right things to keep it good." He fully expects to start in Game 3 Tuesday night and the Rangers will need him after dropping the first two games of their semifinal series to the Boston Bruins.

Ryan McDonagh was back with Dan Girardi during Monday's practice.
The two of them were expected to be reunited after the Rangers were outscored 5-2 in Game 2. Girardi struggled in Sunday's loss, while skating for most of the game alongside Michael Del Zotto, and was on the ice for all five goals against. We would expect to see them on the same pairing in Game 3 Tuesday night.

Henrik Lundqvist participated in Monday's practice after talking about a left shoulder issue following Sunday's loss to Boston in Game 2.
It doesn't appear as though the problem will prevent him from playing in Game 3 Tuesday night since he was given the green light to take part in Monday's practice session.

Daniel Girardi posted a minus-4 rating in Game 2 versus Boston and was on the ice for all five of the Bruins' goals in a 5-2 loss Sunday.
He was out with Michael Del Zotto for the Bruins' last four goals. Girardi is typically one of the team's most dependable defenseman, but he had a rough game in his own zone. As a result of his struggles, he logged a playoff low 19:29 of ice time. Look for him to be better in Game 3 Tuesday night when the semifinal series shifts back to New York.

Derick Brassard's six-game postseason point streak came to end in Sunday's loss to Boston.
He registered four shots and a minus-1 rating in the Rangers' 5-2 loss in Game 2 to the Bruins. Brassard's streak had been the longest in the franchise's history since Wayne Gretzky earned a point in nine straight playoff games in 1997.

While it's too early to label him as injured, Henrik Lundqvist admitted that his left shoulder bugged him late in Game 2.
He seemed to be favoring his arm in the third period, but stuck it out. It wouldn't be surprising if he plays through pain in the playoffs, yet with the New York Rangers in a tough spot, any advantage could be deadly against the Boston Bruins. Stay tuned for updates from the team and other sources.

The New York Rangers' putrid power play came up short once more in a 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins in Game 2 on Sunday.
The Rangers PP went 0-for-5 today. Considering how poorly things have been going, can it really "stink" any more if Carl Hagelin is inserted back into the special teams mix? To be fair to him, he's averaged about 10 seconds of PP time per contest.

Rick Nash finally broke through and scored his first playoff goal in the 2013 playoffs, but it wasn't enough as the New York Rangers lost to the Boston Bruins 5-2 in Game 2 on Sunday.
He now has a single tally on 32 shots in this postseason, giving him a 3.1 shooting percentage. He had 21 goals in 44 games during the regular season. Ryan Callahan scored a beauty for New York's other tally today.

Henrik Lundqvist had some great moments in Game 2 against the Boston Bruins, but the 5-2 score will prompt many to blame him for the New York Rangers' 5-2 loss on Sunday.
He seemed to tweak his arm during the game. While he didn't miss any time, it's something to survey in the time between now and Game 3. Newsday's Arthur Staple reports that Lundqvist hasn't allowed five goals in a single postseason game since 2009.

Ryane Clowe still has not resumed skating with his teammates.
Clowe is suffering from an undisclosed injury that many believe is a concussion, though the Rangers haven't confirmed that, and has yet to participate in practice with the club.

Michael Del Zotto appears fine after being struck in the ear in the first period of Game One against the Bruins Thursday.
Del Zotto left the ice during the game for a few repairs after a shot that was deflected by Patrice Bergeron hit him on the ear. There's no question about his availability for Game Two Sunday.

Carl Hagelin has only logged 1:51 minutes worth of power-play ice time in the postseason.
That's not likely to change as Rangers coach John Tortorella thinks Hagelin "stinks" with the man advantage. "I don't know why," Tortorella said. "I wish I could put him on the power play, but every time I put him on he stinks."

Marc Staal (eye) wasn't on the ice with the Rangers on Saturday.
Staal resumed skating on Friday after taking several days off. There's no timetable for his return, but it would be surprising if he plays again in the near future.

Brad Richards may have reached rock bottom.
Not only has he been demoted to the Rangers' fourth line, he was on the ice for only 9:59 at even strength Thursday night, the least amount of any Ranger skater. It is difficult to determine how Richards has fallen from star to marginal player so quickly. Some believe it has to do with the fact that the 33-year-old pivot did not play during the lockout. Whatever the reason, Richards is not currently relevant from a fantasy perspective.

Marc Staal (eye) has started to skate again.
Staal stayed off the ice for several days. There's still no timetable for his return and information regarding his progress has been scarce during the playoffs.

John Tortorella doesn't think the Rangers' struggles with the man advantage are "playing with their head at all."
Maybe not, but it's kind of moot. Regardless of whether it's bothering them, the result alone hurts. The Rangers have a 6.4% power-play success rate through eight postseason games, which is dead last among the teams that are still alive. To put that in perspective, both the Los Angeles Kings and Boston Bruins struggled to capitalize on their power-play chances in their recent Stanley Cup winning playoff runs, but neither of them were nearly as bad as the Rangers currently are. The Kings converted on 12.8% of their power-play opportunities in the 2012 playoffs and the Bruins capitalized on 11.4% of their chances in the 2011 postseason.

The Rangers lost the special teams battle in Game 1 against Boston and they know that their power play especially needs to improve.
New York went 0-for-3 with the man advantage in Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss, while the Bruins scored once on four chances and generated momentum through those opportunities. "I don't want to say [it's] frustrating," said defenseman Dan Girardi, "but it needs to be better. We need to get good chances and create momentum. We've got to get a goal on the power play. It's a difference-maker and we don't get one and we lose the game. We definitely have to figure out something with that." The Blueshirts have gone 2-for-32 on the power play so far in the playoffs.

Derek Stepan registered his third goal of the playoffs in Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss to Boston.
He didn't record a point in Games 5, 6 and 7 against Washington in the first round. Stepan's marker ended that cold streak and it gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead early in the third.

Henrik Lundqvist wasn't pleased with himself after losing his third overtime game of these playoffs on Thursday night.
"I've got to be really careful to ask myself the right question there," said Lundqvist following New York's 3-2 overtime defeat against Boston in Game 1. "Have I played bad in overtime? No. Can I score? No. Is it frustrating? Yes. My record is terrible in overtime, but I've just got to stick with it, play my game." He made 15 stops in the extra session and 45 in the contest before Brad Marchand beat him to give the Bruins a 1-0 series lead.

Daniel Girardi logged a team-high 32:05 of ice time in Thursday night's Game 1 loss to Boston.
He also had five of the team's 29 blocked shots in the contest. Boston's Adam McQuaid was the only player who had more than Girardi with six on the night.

Marc Staal (eye) did not travel with the Rangers to Boston.
The two teams will play Game 2 of their semifinal series on Sunday afternoon, but Staal's availability is still up in the air. He played in Game 3 against Washington in Round 1, but hasn't played since because of blurry vision.

Ryan McDonagh scored his first goal of the playoffs in the Rangers 3-2 loss in overtime to Boston Thursday.
McDonagh's goal with only two seconds remaining in the second period tied the game at one apiece and it gave the Rangers lots of momentum heading into the third. The momentum continued early in the third as the Rangers made it 2-1 when Derek Stepan scored 14 seconds into the period but rookie defenseman Torey Krug scored on the power play just 2:41 later as Steve Eminger was in the penalty box for holding Rich Peverley. The Bruins took over the game after that, especially in the overtime where they outshot the Rangers 16-5 and finally won it on Brad Marchand's goal. Game 2 is in Boston Sunday at 3pm ET.

Henrik Lundqvist stopped 45 shots but it wasn't enough as the New York Rangers dropped a 3-2 decision in overtime to the Boston Bruins.
Lundqvist was terrific again on Thursday as he was coming off back-to-back shutouts to finish off the Washington Capitals in the first round. He shut out the Bruins in the first period but finally gave up a goal to Zdeno Chara at the 12:23 mark of the second period to end the shutout streak at 152:23 minutes. Lundqvist is 4-4 in the post-season with a sparkling 1.76 GAA and a .945 save percentage.

Marc Staal (eye) missed practice in the morning and won't play Thursday night.
He wasn't expected to play because he's still being bothered by blurry vision.

Darroll Powe (undisclosed) won't be available to play in Game 1 at Boston.
He didn't take part in the morning skate again and hasn't taken to the ice since getting hurt back in Game 3 against Washington. Powe is believed to have a concussion.

Ryane Clowe (undisclosed) didn't skate Thursday morning.
He isn't expected to play Thursday night versus Boston in Game 1. Clowe has been hampered with a possible concussion throughout the playoffs.

Brad Richards has had to make some adjustments to his game while playing the past two playoff contests on New York's fourth line.
"I'm not going to bash my linemates like that, but it's a little more simple, a little more straightforward than some other ways to play," said Richards, who has been skating between Arron Asham and Chris Kreider. "But this time of season, a lot of that other stuff doesn't work anyway. It's got to be straightforward, it's got to be to get shots when you can and drive to the net and try to just create more." He had one goal and 14 shots in seven games against Washington in Round 1, but he's confident that he can rebound.

Ryan McDonagh is expecting a physical series against Boston in the second round of the postseason.
"In the second round, you're gaining more intensity that will feed off Game 7 wins for both teams," he said. "It's a lot of energy for both teams. You try to make sure you don't get overhyped and lose your discipline." The Rangers didn't give Washington a power play in Game 6 and they took just two penalties in Game 7.

Rick Nash is learning on the fly during the playoffs, but he feels that it's only a matter of time before he breaks out.
"I've got to stick with it, keep working," he said after going without a goal in the first round. "Any time you're in a bit of a funk, you want to work your way out of it, and by doing that you keep things simple, keep shooting. The chances are there. I've just got to work harder to get them in." This is only his second year in the postseason and his first since 2009 when he was a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets. That series ended in a four-game sweep by Detroit. With another series under his belt, he should be better prepared and hungrier to perform in the semifinals. "I haven't been in many playoff games, so this is definitely new to me," Nash said. "Any time you get experience, it helps."

The New York Rangers will host a pair of games from Yankee Stadium next season.
They will play the New Jersey Devils at 12:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 26, 2014, and will face the New York Islanders at 7:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 29, 2014. "The teams playing in these two games -- the Rangers, Islanders and Devils -- have tremendously loyal fans and the rivalries are intense because of their proximity and playoff history," said Mathieu Schneider, NHLPA special assistant to the Executive Director. "Yankee Stadium is a landmark venue in New York City, and to see hockey played in such a celebrated setting will be extremely memorable to the players and everyone involved."

Darroll Powe (undisclosed) didn't take part in Wednesday's practice.
He was injured in Game 3 against Washington and hasn't returned since. Powe had no points and nine hits in three contests prior to getting injured. His status for Round 2 is uncertain.

Ryane Clowe (undisclosed) missed practice on Wednesday.
He managed to play in two games for the Rangers in the quarterfinal round, but he had to leave Game 5 after getting hit into the boards by Washington's Jason Chimera. Clowe probably won't be available for Game 1 Thursday in Boston.

Marc Staal (eye) wasn't on the ice for practice Wednesday.
He played in one game in the first round against Washington, but missed the last four contests because he didn't feel comfortable with his blurry vision. Staal probably won't play in Game 1 versus Boston and his status is cloudy at best for Round 2.

Daniel Girardi was paired with Michael Del Zotto in Wednesday's practice.
Girardi generally sees a lot of ice time alongside Ryan McDonagh, who skated with Anton Stralman in the session, but the combinations were changed up ahead of Thursday's semifinal opener against Boston. The Bruins like to roll four lines, so the Rangers mat decide to go with a more balanced defense corps. However, we would expect Girardi and McDonagh to be back together at some point.

Rick Nash isn't feeling discouraged that he hasn't scored yet in the playoffs.
"I think the offense will come," said Nash, who scored 21 goals during the regular season. "I was getting a few chances [Monday], got a few chances [Sunday]. That's my main goal, trying to help the team win. It's unfortunate that I can't do it right now by bringing the offense. I'm just trying to make good defensive plays, try to set guys up, bring some momentum swings." He had two assists and 22 shots in seven games against Washington in the first round and will look to get one in the goal column when the Rangers begin their semifinal series in Boston on Thursday.

Mats Zuccarello potted his first career playoff goal in Game 7 against Washington.
He scored the final marker of the contest to make it 5-0 for the Rangers. "The Norwegian Hobbit" recorded five points in seven games versus the Capitals in the first round and the Rangers will count on him to supply more offense against Boston in the semifinals.

According to Chris Botta, the NHL will confirm the outdoor game scheduled for next season between the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils at Yankee Stadium later this week.
The game will reportedly take place on the Sunday before the Super Bowl, which is also taking place in New York next year. The NHL has also planned four other outdoor games next season, highlighted by the Winter Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings.

Ryan Callahan halted a six-game goalless skid Monday night.
Even though it was the Rangers captain's first goal of these playoffs, it doesn't mean he's been invisible. Along with the goal and two helpers, Callahan has a whopping 35 hits and 18 blocked shots.

Michael Del Zotto scored his first playoff goal of this season Monday.
It was a big one, too, as it gave the Rangers a commanding 3-0 lead with just over 14 minutes left in the second period. "We've believed in our club all year," Del Zotto said. "It wasn't the smoothest year for us, but we've had a lot of fun working hard for each other and we've never given up. With the lockout, we knew from day one it was going to be a different year."

Taylor Pyatt potted a goal for the Rangers in their 5-0 win over the Capitals on Monday.
The goal increased the Rangers' lead to 2-0 at 3:24 of the second period. Pyatt only had six goals and five helpers on the year, but he already has a goal and two assists in the playoffs as his role has increased. His 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame is tailor-made for the playoffs.

Even though Ryan McDonagh didn't find the score sheet in Game 7, he was a vital part of the Rangers' win.
This isn't anything new as McDonagh has become one of the better shutdown defensemen in the league. McDonagh played 23:15, which is quite remarkable considering he was plastered, face-first into the boards early in the game on a hit from Alex Ovechkin, leaving him bloodied and scarred. He missed only two shifts and most importantly kept Ovechkin pointless for for the fifth straight game. "It's a big part of playoff hockey," coach John Tortorella said. "All year long we've been a pretty disciplined team. You get to this type of situation and Ovechkin was trying to get his team going. I think it's a penalty, but it's part of the game."

Arron Asham scored what is considered the game-winning goal in the Rangers' 5-0 triumph in Game 7.
Asham now has a team-leading two goals in the playoffs despite averaging 6:22 per game. It was his slapshot in the first period that began the scoring. The 35-year-old has 11 career playoff goals in 69 games. "I don't think the coach is expecting me to go out there and dangle five guys and roof one," Asham joked. "I play a simple game. I get the puck in, I use my forecheck and whenever the guys get it to me, I try to get it on net the best I can."

Henrik Lundqvist has now notched shutouts in back-to-back games.
King Henrik, who had 35 saves in Monday's Game 7, was the main reason the Rangers were able to get out of the first round, as he's been a perfect 62-for-62 since losing Game 5 in overtime. "Anything is possible with Hank back there," Ryan McDonagh said. "He stands tall, he competes so hard and it's great to see guys willing to block shots; he really respects and honors that, and recognizes that. For everybody, it's a good feeling, but we want to continue to roll with it."

Rangers coach John Tortorella called Game 7 his team's best of the series.
Five of the seven games finished with a one-goal margin, with Monday's clearly the Rangers' finest effort as they played a solid game in each zone. "I didn't think it was going to be a 5-0 win, the way the series has gone, but it was our best game of the series," Tortorella said.

Derick Brassard registered two assists in the New York Rangers' 5-0 Game 7 win over the Washington Capitals on Monday night.
Brassard is on a five-game point streak and now has two goals and nine points in these playoffs. Ever since joining the Rangers at the trade deadline, the former sixth overall pick has been on fire. In fact, Brassard has more points over his last 20 combined games with New York (19 points) than he had in 34 games with Columbus earlier this season (18). It's safe to say that not even Rangers GM Glen Sather saw this sort of production coming when he acquired Brassard from the Blue Jackets as part of the Marian Gaborik trade.

Ryan McDonagh played a team-high 23:15 and blocked three shots in Monday's Game 7 win over the Washington Capitals.
McDonagh's not the type of player that shows up in the scoresheet, but his contribution to the Rangers can't be understated. McDonagh and partner Dan Girardi silenced Caps star Alex Ovechkin yet again Monday night and McDonagh missed just one shift after Ovechkin slammed him into the boards in the first period. The Rangers defenseman ended up with a cut across his forehead from the hit and briefly went to the locker room before returning. McDonagh's next job will be shutting down Boston's top line of Milan Lucic, Nathan Horton and David Krejci.

Henrik Lundqvist stopped all 35 shots in his second straight shutout as the New York Rangers routed the Washington Capitals 5-0 in Monday's Game 7.
Lundqvist delivered his best with the Rangers on the brink of elimination in Games 6 and 7. While there was some criticism of him after a pair of soft goals in Game 1, Lundqvist was a virtual wall for the rest of the series and was easily the Rangers' best player in the series. He'll have possibly an even tougher test in Round 2 with the Boston Bruins, who don't have a player like Alex Ovechkin but possess superb depth and excellent goaltending.

Marc Staal (eye) will not play in Monday's Game 7 against the Washington Capitals.
Staal wasn't expected to play as he deals with blurry vision as a result of a puck to the eye earlier in the season. Staal played in Game 3 but pulled himself out of the lineup for Game 4 and hasn't dressed in a game since.

Darroll Powe (undisclosed) has been sidelined since leaving Game 3 and he won't play in Game 7 Monday night.
He has been out with what is believed to be a concussion and didn't travel with the team to Washington for Game 7.

Ryane Clowe and Darroll Powe, who are both suspected to have concussions, didn't travel with the Rangers for Monday night's Game 7.
Obviously, that means that neither of them will be available against the team's series finale versus the Capitals. Clowe's return didn't last long. He played in Game 4 and left Game 5 early after he was hit by Jason Chimera. Powe hasn't been able to play since Game 3.

Stu Bickel has a wrist injury so he won't be part of the New York Rangers' taxi squad.
He has been sent home to start rehabbing the ailment. Bickel dressed in 16 contests with the Rangers in the regular season.

JT Miller has been shut down and sent home because of a wrist injury.
He had been skating as part of the Rangers' Black Aces squad during the playoffs. However, now he'll get an early start on his rehab. Miller skated in 26 games with the Rangers during the regular season.

Brad Richards was demoted to the fourth line in Game 6.
He's slated to start Game 7 on the fourth unit as well. Richards didn't speak to the media after taking part in the team's optional skate. He has one goal in six games against Washington in the series and logged just 9:34 of ice time in Game 6.

Chris Kreider is projected to remain in New York's lineup for Game 7 Monday night.
The Rangers will use the same lineup as did in their 1-0 win Sunday afternoon in Game 6, which means Ryane Clowe and Darroll Powe aren't ready to return.

The Washington Capitals were upset with Derek Dorsett after Game 6 because they feel he slew-footed Mike Green in the third period.
Green was assessed a penalty for cross-checking Dorsett in retaliation, which angered the Capitals. "That play to me is the one that does concern me because it looked like a slew-foot to me and obviously that's why Mike reacted," coach Adam Oates said. "Mike's not that type of player, and you're watching it. To me it looks like a slew-foot. Very dangerous play. Greenie's one of those guys that they want to target, but to me, that's a very dangerous play."

The New York Rangers haven't been historically good in Game 7s and they haven't enjoyed any success on the road.
The franchise is 5-5 in Game 7s in its history, which includes a 0-5 mark on the road. However, coach John Tortorella doesn't believe any of that matters and he's right. "You make your legacy as a player in these types of situations," he said. "A number of our guys last year had a blast playing in these games. Some guys handle it and some guys don't but that's what you play for, to get yourself in this type of situation and see what type of character you have, as a player, individually and as a team." The Rangers haven't won a game yet in Washington during this series and they'll have to break that trend Monday night at Verizon Center to get into the next round.

Derick Brassard will carry a four-game point streak into Monday night's Game 7 against Washington.
He didn't record a point in the first two games of the series, but he has produced two goals and five assists in four contests since then to emerge as the Rangers' top playoff point getter. The former Columbus Blue Jacket has been thoroughly enjoying his first trip to the NHL playoffs. "It's been a lot of fun," Brassard said. "I've been in the league for five years and this is the first time in my career that it's happening. I'm having a lot of fun with the guys here. We have a good team and I like the atmosphere, the leadership that we have. I'm just trying to help out. Right now it's working. At the end of the day, we haven't won the series yet, and I'm going to try to help the team win [tonight]."

The family of the late Derek Boogaard is suing the NHL in a wrongful death suit.
Boogaard passed away two years ago today. The suit claims that the NHL was responsible for his brain damage and addiction to prescription drugs according to The New York Times. "To distill this to one sentence," William Gibbs, attorney for the Boogaards, told The Times, "you take a young man, you subject him to trauma, you give him pills for that trauma, he becomes addicted to those pills, you promise to treat him for that addiction, and you fail."

Derick Brassard scored the only goal in the Rangers' 1-0 win over Washington in Game Six of their series Sunday afternoon.
Brassard has given the Rangers a much-needed jolt on offense since he was acquired from Columbus at the trade deadline with 11 points in 13 regular season contests as well as seven points in six postseason games. John Moore and Mats Zuccarello drew assists on Brassard's marker.

Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves in a 1-0 shutout win over Washington Sunday in Game Six of their Eastern Conference playoff series.
With their backs against the wall, the Rangers received a stellar performance from their best player as Lundqvist turned aside everything the Capitals threw in his general direction. The deciding game will be played on Monday night in Washington.

The New York Rangers will insert Chris Kreider back into the lineup for Game 6 on Sunday in part because Ryane Clowe cannot play.
Kreider last played on May 2, the only postseason contest he's appeared in so far. His production hasn't matched the expectations he generated after a noisy playoff debut in 2012, but there's still reason to believe that he could figure things out at the top level.

Rangers forward Rick Nash led his team in goals with 21 during the regular season but he's been frustrated in the post-season by the Washington Capitals, who take a 3-2 lead into New York today in their first-round series.
"We're trying to play him hard," Washington defenseman Karl Alzner said of Nash, who has no goals on 19 shots, one assist and is a minus-2 in the series. "When he's in the corner, we're trying to give him a few shots because he is such a big guy. He's a good player and we've been fortunate to keep him in check."

Defenseman Marc Staal would not speculate about the possibility of playing again in the opening-round playoff series that the New York Rangers trail 3-2 heading into today's Game 6 at the Garden.
Game 7 would be played in Washington on Monday night if necessary. "With this thing, the way I've been dealing with it is that I wake up in the morning and take it from there," Staal said about his eye injury. "I'll wake up [today] and go at it again. If I'm ready to go, I want to play. I couldn't speculate one way or the other [whether it will be possible]."

Brad Richards is hoping a return to New York ice today will help the Rangers even their playoff series with the Washington Capitals.
"We didn't have the same forechecking (in D.C.) we had at the Garden for some reason," Richards said. "We were on the puck better at home." The Caps lead the opening-round series 3-2 and a loss today would eliminate the Rangers.

While Marc Staal practiced with the New York Rangers on Saturday, fellow banged-up players Ryane Clowe and Darroll Powe did not.
Some believe that Clowe is dealing with a concussion related to a boarding hit by Jason Chimera in Game 5. Clowe suffered from a head injury in late April, so a recurrence would be of serious concern. He was finding a comfortable place with the Rangers following a trade, yet these issues could label him as a high risk in free agency this summer.

Marc Staal practiced with the New York Rangers on Saturday.
The defenseman missed Game 4 and 5 after surprising some by playing in Game 3. Some believe that vision problems put his postseason to an end, but you never know, so his situation is at least worth monitoring.

The ineffective Ranger power play is one of the reasons the team is down 3-2 in its series with the Capitals.
Friday night the Rangers went 0 for 4 with the man advantage and are now 2-21 for the series. You can 't win in the playoffs with that kind of failure rate. Needless to say, Rick Nash, Brad Richards, Derek Stepan and Ryan Callahan are going to have to kick it up a notch if the Rangers are going to survive beyond Sunday.

The buzz out of New York is that Ryane Clowe has indeed sustained another concussion.
There is no official confirmation as of yet, but all signs are pointing to the fact that Clowe sustained a concussion when his head hit the glass after being checked by the Capitals' Jason Chimera. If that is in fact the case, we doubt we will see Clowe in action again this season. Stay tuned for further updates.

Brad Richards and Rick Nash did not play well in a Game 6 loss to the Capitals Friday night.
The two star linemates were in trouble virtually every even-strength shift and did not create many scoring chances. It's hard to win a series when your two top forwards are non-exsistent but that is what Ranger coach John Tortorella is facing. It is surprising that Richards has struggled so mightily. Up unitl this post-season he has been a pretty clutch playoff performer. If the Rangers are to avoid elimination Sunday, Richards and Nash are going to have to step up.

It is unlikely that Marc Staal will return to action to play any more games in the first round of the playoffs.
He is still dealing with blurred vision and altered depth perception and is doubtful for Game 6 scheduled for Sunday.

True to form, the Rangers' Dan Girardi leads the NHL in post-season blocked shots with 19.
He also led the NHL during the regular season with 125 blocks in 46 games. Players tend to make tremendous sacrafices with their bodies in the playoffs and the number of blocked shots is usually higher than in the regular season. This is reflected in Girardi's 4 to 1 ratio of blocked shots per playoff game and his 3 to 1 ratio during the regular season. By the way, the Bruins' Johnny Boychuk is second in blocks this post-season with 18.

Brian Boyle scored a goal in Rangers' 2-1 overtime defeat on Friday.
Derick Brassard and Dan Girardi assisted on Boyle's goal. Carl Hagelin led the Rangers with five shots on goal, but was held off the scoresheet. Ryan McDonagh had six blocked shots and five hits in 29:11 minutes of playing time. Ryan Callahan had a team-high six hits and now has 26 hits in five playoff contests.

Henrik Lundqvist turned aside 33 of 35 shots in a 2-1 overtime defeat.
Lundqvist has faced at least 30 shots in each game of the first round. The Rangers won both of their games at home, but haven't been able to win in Washington yet. They will head home for Game 6 on Sunday. If the Rangers lose that game, they'll be eliminated from the playoffs.

The New York Rangers have revealed that Ryane Clowe will miss the remainder of Game 6 with an undisclosed injury.
The suspicion is that Clowe sustained the injury when Washington's Jason Chimera hit him into the boards from behind. Unfortunately, Clowe's head hit the glass and he had recently returned from what was believed to be a concussion.

Marc Staal will not play Friday in Game 5, but he did skate at the team's morning session.
He is dealing with blurred vision and altered depth perception with a right eye that is still dilated. Staal was asked if there's been improvement and he said, "Not much, I'll wake up tomorrow and go at it again." He is taking it day by day so he wouldn't speculate on whether or not he will play again during the series.

Marc Staal (eye) probably won't be available to play in Game 5 Friday night.
He did not feel comfortable playing with blurred vision in his return to the lineup in Game 3, so he didn't play in Game 4. He also didn't skate on Thursday. Coach John Tortorella did not respond when he was asked whether Staal would play again in the series.

The Rangers are still waiting for Rick Nash to break out in the postseason.
He led the team with 21 goals during the regular season, but he hasn't found the back of the net yet in the playoffs despite a team-leading 17 shots. Nash has one assist in four games, along with a minus-1 rating, but he should be able to break through eventually. The Rangers first-round series versus the Capitals is tied 2-2 with Game 5 set for Friday night back in Washington.

Marc Staal (eye) was not on the ice Thursday for New York's optional skate and he didn't speak to the media.
Of course, coach John Tortorella chose not to provide an update on Staal's condition. He returned to the lineup in Game 3 but didn't play in Game 4 because he didn't feel comfortable playing through the blurry vision that has plagued him since he got struck near his right eye on March 5.

Brad Richards got his first point of the 2013 playoffs when he scored the opening goal of the contest in Wednesday's win over Washington.
He played a postseason low of 14:51 of ice time, while recording four shots and winning 55.56 percent of his draws. Richards was red hot down the stretch for the Rangers, but he has cooled down considerably in the playoffs.

Derick Brassard contributed two assists in New York's 4-3 win against Washington in Game 5 Wednesday night.
He has racked up five points in his past two playoff games and two of them have come on the power play. Brassard had 11 points in 13 games with the Rangers after being acquired from Columbus and now he's starting to heat up in his first appearance in the playoffs.

Daniel Girardi and Ryan McDonagh have held Washington's top line in check for the past two games of New York's quarterfinal series.
Nicklas Backstrom scored in Game 3, but Alex Ovechkin and Marcus Johansson didn't get a point at Madison Square Garden. To rub a little salt in the wound, Girardi got his first point of the series when he scored a power-play goal in Game 4 in the first minute of the third period. Washington's top line will look to get back on track when the series shifts back to the Verizon Center for Game 5 on Friday.

Ryane Clowe notched an assist and four hits in his return to New York's lineup Wednesday in Game 4.
He logged 12:19 of ice time after being sidelined with a possible concussion and finished with a minus-1 rating in a 4-3 win for the Rangers. Clowe's grit and leadership should help the team in what has become a very tight series against the Capitals. Both teams have two wins apiece with Game 5 set for Friday night back in Washington.

Marc Staal decided not to play in Game 4 Wednesday because he is still dealing with blurry vision in his right eye.
The defenseman returned in Game 3 but admitted that he didn't feel all that comfortable with his vision. Staal saw 17:17 of ice tome and posted a minus-1 rating in his return on Monday, but he should be considered doubtful for Game 5 on Friday.

Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves as the Rangers edged the Capitals 4-3 in Game 4 of their first-round series Wednesday night.
And just like that, this series has become a best-of-three affair, though it didn't come without its excitement, yet again. The Rangers played very well through the first two periods, though Lundqvist was not very sharp as New York gave up its 2-0 lead and entered the third period tied 2-2. They then scored twice more in the third and the Caps pulled to within one at 7:31, and that's when Lundqvist was a real difference-maker. The ice was tilted in the Caps' favor for much of the third -- they got 15 of their 30 shots in the final frame -- but Lundqvist was brilliant. Game 5 is Friday night in D.C.

Carl Hagelin registered three points in the Rangers' 4-3 win over the Capitals on Wednesday night in Game 4 of their first-round series.
The speedy Hagelin really had his legs going in this one, and that made him a major factor, with a goal and two helpers. He also finished with a game-high plus-three rating and four shots on goal. Derek Stepan had the winner for the second straight game on a nice give-and-go with Hagelin. Brad Richards and Dan Girardi picked up the other goals for the Rangers, who have now tied the series at two games apiece. Derick Brassard chipped in with two helpers, and he now has five points over his last two tilts.

Darroll Powe (undisclosed) is in the Rangers' lineup Wednesday.
Powe absorbed a high hit from Washington's Joel Ward on Monday and didn't practice on Tuesday. He has no points and nine hits in three playoff games.

Ryane Clowe will return from an undisclosed injury on Wednesday.
Clowe is projected to play on a line with Derek Dorsett and Arron Asham. He has been out since April 25 with what was believed to be a concussion.

Marc Staal (eye) will not play on Wednesday despite returning on Monday.
It's not immediately clear why Staal is out, although the obvious concern is that he suffered a setback. Staal logged 17:17 on Monday.

Darroll Powe (undisclosed) is questionable for Wednesday's game.
Powe might be dealing with a concussion after absorbing a high hit from Washington's Joel Ward. The Rangers haven't provided much detail on his condition, which is to be expected in the playoffs.

Ryane Clowe (undisclosed) is optimistic about his chances of returning on Wednesday.
Clowe has been able to take part in battle drills lately. He hasn't played since April 25 with what's believed to be a concussion.

Rick Nash took part in Wednesday's practice after skipping Tuesday's skate.
Just an FYI as there was never much doubt that he would play in Game 4 on Wednesday. He skipped Tuesday's practice to rest his knee after banging it against the endboards on Monday.

Henrik Lundqvist is one of the three finalists for the Vezina Trophy.
Lundqvist is looking to win the award for the second straight season. He had a 24-16-3 record, 2.05 GAA, and .926 save percentage in 43 starts. Although those numbers aren't far off from what he posted in 2011-12, he's far from a lock to win it this year.

Chris Kreider has been a healthy scratch for the Rangers' past two playoff games.
He may not get the chance to play in Game 4 either, even though Darroll Powe's status is uncertain, if Ryane Clowe is able to return from injury. Kreider got just 8:23 of ice time in Game 1 and projects to be an odd man out once the team returns to full health. Kreider had a tough regular season as well and it's safe to say that this season didn't go the way he wanted after last year's successful playoff debut. Still, he remains an intriguing prospect to watch going into next season and beyond.

Michael Del Zotto has been dropped to New York's second power-play unit due to the emergence of John Moore.
"It's healthy competition," Del Zotto said. "He's played well since he's come here. I thought the power play was good [Monday]. If you have two good units, it definitely helps spreading out the minutes." The two of them played on the team's third defense pairing in Game 3 Monday night.