In the optional skate, all players, but Jaromir Jagr, Brendan Shanahan, Henrik Lundqvist, Michael Nylander and Sean Avery took to the ice. And that included Michal Rozsival. Although Tom Renney said he will dress seven defensemen for the warmup and then decide, smart money says he plays. Now will he be on the ice for 23 minutes? That’s anyones guess and also how effective will he be?

“That’s the question,” Renney said. “He felt to me that he felt good this morning. He’s an important guy for us, but do you sacrifice a guy now for later?”

Either way, the Rangers will play a game tonight, much to the chagrin of the Canadian media, who seem to feel they should just forfeit. The key tonight is not only the Matt Cullen line, but also the Blair Betts fourth line. 

Since Buffalo can score from with any of their forwards, it’s key for Betts, with Ryan Hollweg and Jed Ortmeyer, to generate some sort of offensive threat.

The coach is hoping for the effort. “It depends on how you qualify offense?” Renney said. “In terms of getting pucks deep and in from a territorial position, they are critical. Those guys can score too. It’s not going to be a pretty goal but it’s the type of goal that pumps up your bench because of the role they play. I would like to see them among other play the type of game they can.”

Added Blair Betts: “The more we can be out there and bang the body to create energy for our team the better.”

All three of those fourth liners can score and if they do, the rest of the team usually follows suit. Earlier in the season against Tampa Bay, when Colton Orr and Hollweg lit the lamp, Jagr compared it to when a lineman scores a touchdown in football. Smiles usually happen all around.

This is not to say the Betts line needs to score, but if they can keep the puck on the offensive end, it will make it easier for the other three lines to do their jobs.

Other notes: Sean Avery was asked by Sam Rosen if he had to behave because his mother will be in the attendance. Avery answered: “She likes it when I am behaving poorly; she’s used to it by now.”

I know everyone in New York was concerned about this: Tonight’s Sabres rally outside of HSBC Arena will have beer served. So maybe they will get more of a crowd.

Stay tuned to The Blueshirt Scene for live updates during the game.

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The Rangers skated for about 45 minutes today at the HSBC Arena. It was more informal, with only Marek Mailik, getting rest and Michal Rozsival out with his knee injury.

Afterwards, the players were confident and blamed yesterday on their own poor play.

“We can’t keep this with us,” said Matt Cullen. “We had tough times before and it wasn’t like we played our best and were pounded. We played poorly. We made our mistakes; we didn’t play smart. When we did play well, we were pretty effective.”

Now, nothing new to report on Rozsival. He is day-to-day and will be evaluated again tomorrow. If he can’t go, Tom Renney didn’t say who will pick up the slack. It may be more of a committee thing.

Talking to the Buffalo and Canadian reporters, they really feel, Renney’s comments were inflamtory. Although, they may have come out wrong, the you have to question why the Sabres needed “The Cream of the Crop” quote to get them motivated.

The Sabres and their fans also seemed really pissed off at Sean Avery, although his comments were just as innocent as Renney’s.

One reporter said the Sabres needed that, because they always respond when their play is questioned. I responded saying the Rangers have fought back when they were counted out.

Most of these non-New York scribes feel the series is over. Me? I still say it goes 7.  

Buffalo skated earlier and they did look loose afterwards. Spoke with Chris Drury for a bit, who actually was a Ranger fan growing up and sat in the blue seats when he went to games.

Otherwise Lindy Ruff was very careful to say nothing the rangers could use as motivation.

I should have a report on the Matt Cullen line later, which will be posted on NY Sports Day.

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Well, it was nice while it lasted, but the last six minutes or so were brutal. Too many penalties caught up to them, as you saw Thomas Vanek burn the Rangers for two goals. Add another by Ales Kotalik and you get 3-0.

Michal Rozsival got hurt at the wrong time. Karel Rachunek looks very rusty and not up to snuff.

Even Brendan Shanahan look old out there.

Let’s see if they can mount any kind of comeback in the third.

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Michal Rozsival has a leg injury, which can mean anything, and will not return to this game, so it could be pretty serious.

More details as they come in…

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