by Patrick Hickey, Jr. | Senior Writer – NY Sports Day | Saturday, February 9, 2008

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by Patrick Hickey, Jr. | Senior Writer – NY Sports Day | Thursday, February 7, 2008

«FULL STORY»

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Greg Moore was sent back to Hartford today to make room for Ryan Callahan, who is expected to play against the Islanders on Thurday.

With Callahan in the lineup, the Ranger forwards will be fully healthy for the first time since the first game of the year, but also presents a problem on who gets scratched.

Marcel Hossa is the probable candidate, since he has no goals and three assists and seems like he took a step back this year. But also Petr Prucha could be scratched as well, yet that seems unlikely since the Rangers do like him, although he isn’t having a good year [2 goals and 5 assists].

They also could scratch Ryan Hollweg or Colton Orr, but that fourth line played very well so far, so why mess with the one consistant Ranger line.

Coach Tom Renney will have a decision to make in the next few days, but at least there may be a consistency to the Ranger lines over the next few weeks.

Now if they can get the power play working. After an 0-6 yesterday and 3-for-39 over the last eight games. Renney has tried a number of different combinations, including just rolling lines out there. Nothing has worked.

“Believe it or not, it’s better than it’s been,” Renney said after yesterday’s loss. “I thought tonight we showed good puck movement, I thought we had some chances. We still need to shoot more, naturally. That certainly is an area we have to improve upon, and work habits are a part of that.

If our power play doesn’t get clicking, if we beat ourselves, which may have been the case tonight, then the statistics will bear out where we belong. Every team is a work in progress, but at some point in time there is a level of excellence that is acceptable, and only that, and we’ve gotta make sure we continue to strive for that.”

One bright spot about Thursday. The Islanders may be a little tired since they have a game at home against the now slumping Ottawa Senators.

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The Rangers may have played their best period all season going three for five on the power play and peppering Olaf Kolzig with 20 shots.

The Blueshirts seemed very cohesive as a unit on the man advantage, which is something that dogged them on the Island on Wednesday. After that game, both Brendan Shanahan and Tom Renney spoke about special team situations and how they will be worked on. It seemed like it worked.

Joromir Jagr looked strong with three assists and Scott Gomez scored his first goal as Ranger.

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With two assists on the night and the first star, Brandon Dubinsky made his case to be on this team when the season starts on October 4.

“Obviously, that’s my ultimate goal to be here,” he said. ”So I’m just trying to go out every night to [show] our management and coaching staff. That’s what I am fighting for.” 

Looking sharp, the rookie won 8 of 13 faceoff won and got coach Tom Renney’s attention. “He’s good; he’s responsible,” Renney said. “He worked both ways and played with confidence. He was very vocal on the bench. I liked him.”

Competiting for the third line center slot is Artem Anisimov, who also looked good on the night skating with Sean Avery and Brendan Shanahan, but Dubinsky was a little better. Only Ryan Callahan, goal and an assist, was comparable to the Alaska native. 

And Dubinsky loved it. “Obviously it was pretty exciting to be in MSG again and I felt like my legs were there. I was just happy to contribute tonight.”

You can read more on the game at NY Sports Day.  

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Power play goals from Dane Byers and Ryan Callahan paced the Rangers to a 2-0 lead.

But more than that was the injuey to Kevin Weekes, who hit his head on the crossbar ad he went down after Sean Avery pushed Johnny Oduya into the former Ranger. After several minutes down on the ice, he was helpped off.

The Byers goal was scored off Weekes and the Callahan tally was off his Jordan Parise, Zack’s brother.

Otherwhise the Rangers look good as they have had a solid attack and Anisimov blends well with Avery and Shanahan.

Also Dan Girardi with 2 assists. Brandon Dubinsky and Marc Staal both with one.

More after 2…. 

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After sitting out last season deciding what to do, Brian Leetch finally made it official and retired from the NHL after 18 seasons.

The Daily News reported today the Rangers all-time leader scorer for a defenseman finally packed it in. He finished up with 240 goals, with 741 assists in 1129 games as a Rangers, while winning the Calder, the Norris twice, and Conn Smythe trophies. He was a 10-time All-Star and won the Stanley Cup with the Blueshirts in 1994.

He is second only to Rod Gilbert in overall scoring for the franchise.

Leetch spent most of his career with the Blueshirts, but when sent packing to the Toronto Maple Leafs in March 2004 and then, after the lockout, played for the Boston Bruins in 2005-06.

It was rumored Leetch would come back to the Rangers last season, but that never materialized.

Yet, just remember the good times.

[youtube AR3RT6tgmb8 nolink]

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