• Unlike Mark Messier a few years ago, Leetch’s pre-retirement gathering was much more subdued, like the way he played.
• Leetch was very forthcoming about still being hurt when he was traded almost four years ago.
• All the Rangers agreed he may have been the most important player from the 1994 team.
• When asked Leetch didn’t want to give a Super Bowl prediction, but Messier said 24-21, yet he would not guarantee that.
• Tonight, don’t expect a 75 minute ceremony, although the Rangers have 98 minutes, but that also includes pregame warmups and getting the ice ready.
• Tie Domi was at the event last night as well, which was a welcome surprise.

In it you will find articles on the Rangers, Knicks, Nets, Giants, Jets, and full coverage of the baseball off-season.

And at $25.00 for the full year, it’s still one of the best deals out there. To subscribe go to www.nysportscene.com/subscribe.php or call the office at 631-580-7772.

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And finally if you like this blog and want to read about the enemy, go to www.nysportscene.com/isles for the Islander view of the day by NYS writer Brian Bohl.

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“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.  

I am sure, though, my esteemed collegues will have reports in their papers and blogs from today, so be sure to check them out.

Have a great Sunday!!

 

After Brendan Shanahan signed yesterday, the Rangers are at the cap, but can go over it by 10 percent before the season starts. Assuming Darius Kasparaitis goes down to Hartford again, that will lash off three million right there.

But it doesn’t really matter to the general public, since the Rangers pay people handsomely to figure this whole thing out.

Now Sean Avery has to be inked and maybe there will be a relief move – Paul Mara, anyone? – before the season starts.

But the Blueshirts look pretty much set.  

More on this on NY Sports Day.

Of the candidates, Sather will look to retain someone who will do the legwork Maloney did over the past decade in teh front office. Both Messier and Graves are inexperienced, yet could get some sort of position to begin their careers, but Schoenfeld has the knowledge of the organization, so will also a considerable look.

Eventually Messier will probably work his way up to the job, The Captain said he was moving to New York and wanted to be Slats’ successor. So, it would be hard to fathom if he was left out in the cold.

As for Maloney, Sather may have a trading partner. Larry Brooks mentioned a possible Al Montoya for the third overall pick. We shall see what prospects Maloney liked more than Sather and if any deals come to pass.

You can read more about this on NY Sports Day.  

“The idea behind an optional skate is that guys use that time to workout and rest,” Renney said. “Most guys feel they have to be out there. One of the reasons why I don’t go out there is that guys will be there because I am out there. But it tells you what guys you have.”

Not skating today were:

Brendan Shanahan, Sean Avery, Michael Nylander, Fedor Tyutin, Ryan Callahan, Matt Cullen and Game 3 hero Michal Rozsival, who could use the rest.

But the Rangers need to hand it to themselves, they did what they needed to do yesterday, playing in front of a Garden crowd totally on their side.

It’s interesting to see that, because the Blueshirts totally turned around their home record from a pedestrian 12-14-4 on Feb.24 to a 12-1-1 mark since then.

So what has changed?

“We changed our style of play at home,” said Henrik Lundqvist, one of the key reasons why they have an eight game home streak. “We do the small things and take some pride at home, like we do on the road. I think we realize we will get chances from that. We stay back and play a control game, and we will get chances.”

That’s good because the Rangers need to win tomorrow’s game and then a Game 6 at the Garden if they are going to have any chance in this series, because they will have to win a game in Buffalo and maybe two games is too much to ask.

Some other notes from Greenburgh: Jaromir Jagr was asked if there was a defenseman who could contain him. He quipped about him not being born yet.

The mood overall was lighthearted, yet confident and who can blame them, the Rangers looked good not just yesterday, but also for most of Game 2, as well. Now they know there is still a lot of work to do, but this series is not over by any means.

Later on, I will have a report on NY Sports Day from Greenburgh and check out last night’s game story as well.

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.