....after today's skate in Westchester, from which I'll report later.
No breaks for Rangers from out-of-town games last night, as the B's allowed four third-period goals to Montreal.
Chris Simon said yesterday---read Greg Logan's story here at newsday.com and in the paper---that he will reach out to Ryan Hollweg by phone or in person in the next day or so. From talking to Hollweg, that horse has already left the barn, but I'm sure he'll accept the apology without rancor....
The AP is reporting that Mike Richter won't run for Congress in Connecticut this year, probably a wise move. May as well finish his Yale sojourn.
Kevin Weekes (quad) told me on Monday that he was ready to resume his role as backup and it appears Stephen Valiquette has been returned to Hartford. Vally's major on-ice contribution was his play in the 3-2 shootout win over St. Louis after allowing a goal on the first shot of the game. The Rangers have really turned it around since that win.
More later...
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Here's a great article out of Philly on the fight, some really good reporting and a bunch of great quotes:
Todd Fedoruk stepped off a train at 30th Street Station yesterday, saying he felt good and well-rested.
The Flyers forward spent Wednesday night at New York's St. Vincent's Hospital after an overhand right from the New York Rangers' Colton Orr left him briefly unconscious and with a slight concussion.
Although the left side of Fedoruk's face was bruised, the titanium plates inserted in previous surgeries were intact. What might not be is Fedoruk's ability to defend himself in fights.
In five fights as a Flyer, he has tried unsuccessfully to protect the left side of his face. He has been tentative. In the NHL, a heavyweight cannot be unsure of himself.
General manager Paul Holmgren reiterated yesterday that Fedoruk needed time to recover mentally from a broken cheekbone and devastating facial injuries suffered in an October fight with Minnesota's Derek Boogaard.
"When Fridge came here, I thought he might need the entire season to get over it," Holmgren said. "I know the kind of player he is and the mentality he has. He'll get over it."
"I think anybody would be tentative" after such injuries, said Fedoruk, 28. "It is just a matter of time until I get back to my style. I am not really worried about it.
"But, being tentative . . . when you change your style a little bit, you leave yourself vulnerable. That's what happened to me last night. I am not worried about it. I will get back on track. I have had worse things done to me than this."
The NHL had all but outlawed fighting after its lockout of two seasons ago, but then Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby came into the league. Gradually, he reminded people that skilled players need protecting, which is why the Penguins acquired Georges Laraque. Fighting is still around.
"We have to let teams know they can't take liberties with skill players," said Flyers coach John Stevens, who brought up tough guy Riley Cote yesterday to replace Fedoruk.
There are fewer fights than there were in the pre-lockout days, according to the league. In 2003-04, there were 1,461 fights through 1,100 games. Last year, there were 834. This season, the total is 903.
The Orr-Fedoruk fight was inevitable. In the previous Flyers-Rangers game, Fedoruk had roughed up Jaromir Jagr. Fedoruk and Ben Eager accrued 20 penalty minutes in the opening period of that game. This was payback.
"Todd was finishing his hits out there that game and being effective in that," recalled Mike Knuble, who left the Feb. 17 contest after a violent collision with Brendan Shanahan. On Wednesday night, "Orr's job was to go out there and say, 'No, he can't do that tonight and I'm going to stop [him].' "
Rangers coach Tom Renney said after Wednesday's game that he regretted not dressing Orr in the Flyers' 5-3 win last month.
"It's tough," Renney said. "First of all, it's a hockey fight - it happens. But the kid is hurt, so nobody likes to see that on our bench."
Added Shanahan: "They are two honest guys. They have a difficult job to do. That just goes to show that is a dangerous job."
There are heavyweights in the NHL - such as Fedoruk and Orr - and three super-heavyweights in Boogaard, Laraque and Washington's Donald Brashear.
"There is a lot of testosterone running around on a hockey team," the Flyers' Denis Gauthier said. Fighters "have the toughest job in the NHL.
"They are ultimate fighters who go into every game thinking they may have to scrap. You have to be mentally prepared for that. . . . It's a tough way to make a living, getting beat up or beating up people."
In the 1950s, '60s and even the '70s, players fought upright like boxers on skates. Now, they grab each other and take turns whaling until one guy drops or they are separated. If Orr had not been holding Fedoruk's sweater as he fell, "The Fridge" might have been more seriously injured.
"Toughest job in sports," Knuble said. "You can't compare it to what a boxer does. These guys are bare-knuckling. Guys are bigger and stronger and starting to be groomed at age 15 or 16 and pounding weights. They have a one-track mind.
"It's dangerous. Somebody is really going to get hurt because some guys are so big and strong and so refined as fighters."
great post thanks!!!!
Steve --
Your observation about Valiquette's contribution is what I was thinking as well. Depending on how the season turns out, his victory may be the season's turning point.
All in all, I am glad the NYR are playing meaningful games in March, and unlike last season's nosedive, they are competing and just as importantly, having fun.
For all the boo-birds out there, kindly relish the recent string of home games especially the past 3 home games, won by a combined score of 14-1. And the Rangers did not trail for one second and two were outright laughers, a very nice gift at this time of year.
I admire the team for playing hard, and not giving up in the face of so many injuries. Most of all, they have not quit on each other or the coaches. To me, that means something.
The injection of spirit by Avery (who knew how big a pickup he would be) and blending in the youth of Girardi, Callahan, etc. have energized others.
Jagr seems to have lost 50 lbs the past week -- probably off his shoulders because he now sees others will score and get the job done.
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