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,

Posted under Blog

Now that Sean Avery was punished and Mark Messier got into the Hall, there’s a game to play.

It’s 1-1 with goals early Jamie Langenbrunner and Nigel Dawes. With Langenbrunner’s coming off a rebound in front of the net and Dawes goal should have been saved by Henrik Lundqvist.

The real question is how both Scott Gomez, playing his first game in New Jersey in an opposing sweater, and Avery, who may tone down the act tonight will play. Will they be able to adapt to the hostile Newark crowd?

More later… 

 

Posted under Blog

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.

Posted under Blog

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.

Posted under Blog

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.

Posted under Blog

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.

Posted under Blog

This was the right move for him. Scott Gomez spoke to us for about 15 minutes talking about his transition. The new Ranger center seems pretty comfortable in his new digs praising the other players he met on the Rangers.

He also spoke about playing the same game and not trying too much while fitting in. He also spoke about the importance of chemistry.

And he confirmed his number would be 19 because growing up he was a big San Diego Padre fan and it was for Tony Gwynn.

More as it comes in….

Posted under Blog

Just kidding. But between my coverage of the Yankees for Sportscene, Mets for Inside Pitch, and create myself a little bit of a personal life, I had little time to jump on this.

Here are my thoughts though:

1) Signing Chris Drury is just what this team needed. Even more than Scott Gomez, the Rangers needed Drury and the dimention he adds to this team.

2) Gomez is an upgrade over Michael Nylander, but his value will come in star power. Unlike the Devils, the Rangers will market him and in a league that is looking for new fans will become one of the top stars in the diverse city. He’s a pretty good hockey player too.

3) Their signings mean there is no margin for error. The Rangers need all the restricteds signed as well as Brendan Shanahan. Also, they better hope no major injuries occur, since they will probably lack the cap space for any major moves during the season unless someone is waived. [Paul Mara, you are on notice].

4) After last season Tom Renney needs to show he can keep the ship together. Unlike last season when they kind of got a pass early on, the Garden Faithful will be very unhappy if a perceived Cup contender starts out of the gate slow.

But all this means, I can’t wait until September!!

I will be updating more often if news comes by, so stay tuned!! 

Posted under Blog

Today at Greenburgh another Ranger season comes to an end with the players getting exit interviews with Glen Sather and Tom Renney, while taking physicals.

Some key notes:

1) Brendan Shanahan seems to want to come back and said, “My instincts are that I will probably play but it’s something that I’m going to think over and you know as far as playing and coming here this year and being part of the Rangers., there’s nowhere else I’d rather play.”

2) Sean Avery was chirpy as usual and even blamed himself for losing the series. But he also felt that a second line center would be important. Specifically he mentioned Scott Gomez when names were tossed out.

Avery said: “I was going to use Patrick Marleau as an example, but I think Gomez would be, I certainly wouldn’t mind playing with him, that’s for sure. That would be big. That’s where the depth comes in. I think that’s the difference. As much as I can handle playing 18 minutes a night, a guy like that is a second line center or first line center, that’s his job. Then you just throw me on the wing to clean up all the dirty stuff.”

3) Jaromir Jagr was asked about his first year as a captain. His thoughts: “I was a captain when I was in Pittsburgh, but it’s kind of different. It’s a big city, and when you’re older, you’re more responsible for everything else. You kind of think more about the game, and about other people when you are older. You worry more about the young guys, and older players who haven’t won the Cup yet – you just want to make sure about the players who are free agents, because if you win, everything stays together; you don’t have to make any changes. If you lose, of course the organization might make changes. And if you have a contract, of course, you still have to work for other players who you play with. And when yhou were younger, you didn’t think like that. When you are older, you worry about other people, and you just want to make sure they got what they need.”

4) Marty Straka will not need surgery, contradicting a web blog report. He said he needs to rest it over the summer, since “it will do anything if I have the surgery.”

5) Jed Ortemeyer, who is a free agent, wants to be back, but hasn’t spoken to the team yet.

6) Michael Nylander, on the other hand, expects to get back into the contract talks with the Rangers in a week.

7) Tom Renney expressed his interest in a second line center, but also wanted to consult with Sather and Don Maloney before he started to name targets.

More later as I go through more tape.

 

Posted under Blog