Sean Avery had wrist surgery today at 5:30 and the Islanders came in an hour and half later.

The Isles went to a six round shootout last night beating the now slumping Ottawa Senators and may be tired for the game at the Garden.

But these are the Rangers they are playing and the Isles tend to play up to the Rangers.

As for the lines, Marcel Hossa played on the second line with Scott Gomez and Brendan Shanahan and Ryan Callahan is back on the third line.

As for Avery, no word on how the surgery went but we may have more of a word after the game.

Right now, as I press send, Jaromir Jagr just scored to make it 1-0 Rangers,

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After further review Jaromir Jagr’s goal on Monday actually tipped Brendan Shanahan’s skate, so the goal goes to No. 14, not No. 68. Jagr gets the assist and Chris Drury loses an assist.

Just keeping things up to date.

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Even though Sean Avery wants to play tonight, coach Tom Renney will have nothing of it.

After going through contact during the moring skate today, Renney will hold him out against Washington and then consider using him on Saturday against the Devils.

“He want through it this morning and we will see about it tomorrow,” Renney said. ”He will have more contact and put him into situations and draw some conclusions. And we will listen to him to.”

Avery’s style will test the shoulder and even though the Rangers need him right now, Renney and his staff will not bring him back early. Yesterday, Avery expressed discomfort after practice, which may be an indication that the shoulder may not be healed.

“The problem is there is some discomfort there,” Renney said. ”We have to see if they injury on the joint has any damage and that’s where the medical people step in and help us. We all know how Sean likes to play and how he has to play to help us. That may be the ultimate test.”

And when that test happens is all up to the coach. If it’s not Saturday, then Monday or Tuesday against the Flyers and Islanders, respectively.

***

Jaromir Jagr was chatting with the press, while adjusting his sticks for the game. He was stunned to hear about the Martina Hingis situation, who was dating a friend of his during Wimbledon when her positive test for cocaine took place [they now broke up]. After heaing the situation he said Hingis played well afterwards and loudly denied any knowledge of her improprieties.

 

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Is it me or do the Rangers need some shot of life? Or maybe theywere. Just too concerned about Joe Torre’s situation to be concerned with the game at hand.

But 4 shots? Surely the Blueshirts could muster a better effort.

And thanks to Henrik Lundqvist it remained scoreless. Only his brilliance kept the Bruins off the board as he was the reason the Rangers killed off a double minor to Jaromir Jagr.

Maybe the rest of the team can feed off its netminder fopr the rest of the game.

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After a great first period yesterday, today, the Rangers came out a little flat and needed to get going. Fortunately, Henrik Lundqvist was up to the task as he stopped all 15 Ottawa shots.

Jaromir Jagr hurt his knee, but didn’t miss any time and was back on the ice the next shift.

Maybe more life in the second…

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A new Gardenvision and graphic boards at both goal ends highlight the look at the old girl. Also the John Condon press room got a once over.

And debuting tonight are the new uniforms.. But no Jaromir Jagr, Scott Gomez, Chris Drury or Henrik Lundqvist. Antem Anisimov is centering Brendan Shanahan and Sean Avery.

Al Montoya and Stephen Valiquette are in goal and olf friend Kevin Weekes is in net for Jersey.

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The Rangers Just Announced two more cuts before the preseason starts tomorrow night at the Garden.

The team sent defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti back to junior and forward Tom Pyatt to Hartford.

The Rangers now have 37 players remaining in training camp, including four goaltenders, 13 defensemen and 20 forwards. 

Here’s the list:

Goal: Henrik Lundqvist, Al Montoya, Steve Valiquette, and Miika Wiikman

Defense: Ivan Baranka, Dan Girardi, Andrew Hutchinson, Darius Kasparaitis, David Liffiton, Marek Malik, Paul Mara, Thomas Pock, Michal Rozsival, Michael Sauer, Marc Staal, Jason Strudwick, and Fedor Tyutin

Forwards: Artem Anisimov, Sean Avery, Blair Betts, Dane Byers, Ryan Callahan, Nigel Dawes, Chris Drury, Brandon Dubinsky, Scott Gomez, Ryan Hollweg, Marcel Hossa, Jaromir Jagr, Hugh Jessiman, Lauri Korpikoski, Francis Lessard, Colton Orr, Petr Prucha, Mark Smith, Martin Straka, and Brendan Shanahan

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The first period of the Blue-White game saw Sean Avery core the only goal as the Blue team leads 1-0.

Brendan Shanahan is not playing due to rest, so Avery is on the top line with Jaromir Jagr and Scott Gomez. Chris Drury is centering Marty Straka and Hugh Jessiman on the top line for the White.

Interesting to see a lot of the players pull up and not check. Remember this is an exhibition scrimmage. No need to get anyone hurt.

Henrik Lundqvist is in goal for the Blue, while Stephen Valiquette is in net for the White.

Talk after 2.

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There were two scrimmage games at the MSG Training Center this morning. The more interesting of the two – and the one I was there for – took place around noon when the Blue team, with Jaromir Jagr, Scott Gomez and Marcel Hossa, took on the Green, with Sean Avery, Brendan Shanahan and Chris Drury.

In the end, the 3-2 Blue score didn’t really matter with Henrik Lundqvist in goal for the Blue [Chris Holt netminded for the Green], but Gomez scored his first goal as a Ranger. Actually he scored two, but the ref didn’t see the other one.

What made this interesting was the immediate chemistry between Jagr and Gomez. It looked like they really could play together and Tom Renney said he wanted to try the combo most wanted first, although things couls be changed up in the upcoming weeks.

Also, after practice Drury modeled the new uniform. Outside of it being smaller on top and the leggings made of a different material, it looks the same. Drury gave his approval of the change saying he used to swim the the old ones.

And the funny note of the day over Henrik Lundqvist’s locker, his placard read “Hankenstein,” which is something the equiptment managers call him.

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Jaromir Jagr sat down with the media and spoke about a few topics.

First he said his shoulder is fine and it was nice to work out healthy.

He also said having a guy like Drury will help him in the dressing room, while he concentrates on hockey. But he also said he wants to talk to Gomez and Drury about understanding their numbers may go down for the benefit of the team winning. And he hopes the media and fans understand that too and not get on them. (He didn’t say anything about his ice time going down.)

In terms of him playing, Jagr said he will stay in the NHL “as long as someone wants him.” So that dispels the thought of him returning to the Czech Republic after his contract up after next season.

More later.

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