Blue Notes

OTTAWA----The snowflakes tumbled past my eighth-floor window here this afternoon and I took a break from writing and strolled through this part of downtown. Kids were racing home from school, backpacks flapping. Drivers were cleaning windshields. Almost feels like Christmas. Not ready for the cold or icy sidewalks yet though.

In that spirit, I pass along this missive:

Rangers Ryan Callahan, Ryan Hollweg, Marcel Hossa, Paul Mara, Petr Prucha, Jason Strudwick and former Ranger Adam Graves will sign autographs in exchange for unwrapped toys on Tuesday, Dec. 4 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Bryant Park in Manhattan.

The annual holiday event is part of the U.S. Marine Corps' effort for Toys for Tots. Each player will provide one autograph per fan, and the players stay for about an hour each, I believe.

Former Rangers Ron Duguay, Nick Fotiu and Rod Gilbert will pose for photos and skate with fans on the pond at the park on 42nd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenue. Admission is free and rental skates are available.

On the Senators front, it appears that Anton Volchenko, the league's leading shot blocker, is injured and out for several weeks. Perhaps the Rangers will get a few more shots through tomorrow afternoon over in Kanata.

Presumably will be venturing out agains soon for dinner, perhaps to a spot with a fire in the hearth and a game on. In the meantime, keep those cards and letters coming....

Defenseman Paul Mara has a sprained shoulder, the result of a crunch in the boards in the third period against the Isles, and Marek Malik, who has missed 13 games with a sore back/ribs since a spill on Nov. 1, apparently will return to play with Michal Rozsival, while Marc Staal pairs with Jason Strudwick.
Unclear how long Mara will be out, but when he returns, it may be Strudwick's turn to get a breather....

OTTAWA----Just landed awhile ago---we have a reporter on site for Rangers practice in Westchester, so I'll pass along whatever is poppin' later.

The patchwork of houses, pine forests and fields below on our approach was blanketed in snow. The city itself is clear though, and I listened to the Stones' "Let It Bleed" (four stars) driving north on Bronson Avenue from the airport.

The Senators are going to want to stop the bleeding tomorrow afternoon, having lost five straight, and the Rangers can't rest on their laurels just because they outplayed the Islanders last night and finally made nemesis Rick DiPietro, as the tune goes..."flip, flop and fly."

Meanwhile, some key forwards are starting to emerge. Center Brandon Dubinsky, playing with vets Jags and Straka (four shots each) had two points, as did Jags, who when he scores early, really tears it up the rest of the game. And that was quite some pass to Dubinsky for the cushion goal from Straka, who appears to be getting back in synch with Jagr after sitting out with the broken finger.

Chris Drury, (with his sixth goal and an assist), as I wrote today in the paper, is settling in, and Ryan Callahan, in his first game back, was relentless. And kudos to Marcel Hossa, who had one of his strongest, most engaged games in a while.

The 2-for-5 power play still needs some work, but, hey, the Isles PK is not to be dismissed easily.

I personally didn't make a big deal of this yesterday, but Chris Simon's avoiding a third-man-in penalty after firing numerous punches at Colton Orr in a scrum along the boards late in the first should be pointed out to the league. Just a horrible job by refs Mick McGeough and Brad Watson.

More later....

So naturally, the topic of pre-game discussion was the Devils, no, not really.

The Islanders.

"We've done a lot wrong," said Rangers coach Tom Renney. "We're 0 for 3. Maybe it's the battle of the titans where whomever decides to really address their systems play and honor it will win and I think it's our turn."

Said Renney: "I like what Ted's doing with his team. They mount enough offense to win hockey games...to be honest with you, we've kind of done the same thing this year. The one thing we don't want to do is get into a track meet. We're better at it (defense) than we were a year ago, so too are the Islanders."

How to deal with Rick DiPietro?

"Try to keep it away from him," said Renney. "The hard rim from back too far gives him an opportunity to play it. We've got to jam him up...and if we can hit the oppostion blue line with some numbers, then we can lay soft chips in."

As for the lines, Marcel Hossa will skate in Sean Avery's spot with Scott Gomez and Brendan Shanahan. Ryan Callahan will be on the right side of Chris Drury and Petr Prucha.

Martin Straka will man one point on the struggling power play in his fourth game back from a broken finger. "It's just a matter of getting his feet under him again," Renney said. It hadn't happened earlier, because he needed "to get his timing back before we gave him the responsibility. But he can move the puck as well as anybody and knows where to go with it."

An RX for the PP?

Petr Prucha and Ryan Callahan, both right hand shots, will probably see time on one of the power-play units tonight and down the road. With the Rangers and Islanders---and many teams---scoring two goals or fewer in recent weeks (11 teams last night were in that category), special team scoring is becoming more critical.

Prucha skated with Jaromir Jagr, Brandon Dubinsky, Martin Straka and and Michal Rozsival, while Scott Gomez, Chris Drury and Brendan Shanahan were up front on the other unit, with Fedor Tyutin and Dan Girardi at the point. Callahan was watching, and coach tom Renney said afterward that he wanted Callahan to be ready to step in with the man-advantage.

Other observations from the morning skate: Henrik Lundqvist was first hit up high by a Marc Staal slap shot and then took one off the mask from Rozsival, and dropped to his knees. No damage.

Dubinsky was limping towards a doorway just off the rink with his left knee wrapped after practice. He said he was OK, but clearly was favoring the leg. Somethng to watch...

I've written an Avery piece for the paper and newsday.com, so check that out along with an advance on the Isles-Rangers game, and here's some more:

After practice, during which he shared his spot on the Shanahan-Gomez line with Marcel Hossa, Avery discussed the pain in his wrist and hand---it's the hand without the black nail-polish---which was worsening, and the decision to have surgery tomorrow at the Hospital for Joint Disease in Manhattan.

"They're gonna take a look at everything (in there), but they're going to clean out the fracture. I got it frozen last game, so I didn't feel anything," Avery said. "Today, I wasn't really shooting, we were still waiting to see the CAT scan and MRI. If I was gonna play (tomorrow), I didn't want to take three days off."

His personality adds some juice to the Rangers---who are 4-5-1 without him in the lineup this season---but Avery tried to underplay his importance. "I think the way we play, we know the kind of team we are and can be, and I think we know what type of game we need to play. I don't think that me in the lineup should make a difference. If we play a simple, hard-working game, everything's gonna be fine. We've still got some pretty good players out there."

Said Brendan Shanahan: "It's been bothering him a lot. He feels like he's got to get in tighter to the goalie. He has a lack of confidence getting power behind the shot. So it's (the surgery) a good idea."

Although Avery couldn't pinpoint how long it would be before he could play, defenseman Paul Mara, who had a scope of his right wrist in May 2002 when Phoenix's season had ended, said he was working out two weeks later and could have played. "No problems since," Mara said.

Coach Tom Renney, who mentioned Mara's operation and recovery to reporters, said that Avery's "got a little bit of pain and discomfort in there that we can take care of really quickly. In as much that we don't want him to miss a single game moving forward, the best thing for our hockey team is to do just that, have him not miss too much. It certainly suggests it won't be too long."

Avery admittedly wasn't the nicest person during the rehab from his shoulder injury in October and expected the same frustration to flow. "I just feel sorry for everyone that's gonna have to be around me," he said. "It's not so much me, but how I act toward everyone else."

Just when the Rangers seemed healthy, Sean Avery is going under the knife.

Avery---already sidelined once this season with a shoulder separation----will not only miss the Islanders game, but several more after arthroscopic surgery to clean out his left wrist tomorrow at 5:30 p.m.

Avery---who reinjured the wrist against Tampa when hit by a shot--- practiced without shooting today, but was waiting for results of a CAT scan on the wrist, which has bothered him since the start of the season.

He said afterward that the decision had been made and didn't know how long he would be sidelined. Avery said he had been playing with a fracture, and was worsened during a fight five games after he returned---we're thinking with Darcy Tucker in Toronto.

"Hopefully, it'll only be a week or two," he said. "But I don't live in a reality world."

With Ryan Callahan back and on a third line, Marcel Hossa could play left wing with Scott Gomez and Brendan Shanahan tomorrow, and coach Tom Renney did not rule out a callup from Hartford.

The Rangers were 17-6-6 with Avery last season; this year, the Rangers are 9-4-1 with him and 4-5-1 without him.

More in a bit....

No, your favorite correspondent didn't get hit by a puck, but did need some dental refurbishing, so Newsday's Eric Boland subbed for me at practice today.

He reports that Ryan Callahan skated with Chris Drury and Petr Prucha (good speed there), and that the Straka-Dubinsky-Jagr line was unchanged. Both Brendan Shanahan (sore back/rest) and Sean Avery (CAT scan on sore wrist) didn't skate, but are expected to play against the Islanders, as is Callahan. That means Marcel Hossa could sit, as predicted here yesterday.

Marek Malik, who has missed 12 games with bruised ribs and back, is ready to return, but coach Tom Renney won't commit to exactly when he'll play. He's apparently reluctant to break up the three d-pairs for Thursday's tilt against the Islanders.

Thanks to Eric for the info. Check out his Callahan story in tomorrow's editions.

I understand some rumors are floating around about a Jagr trade. Please stop. Is he discouraged by his start? Of course. Is he concerned about his numbers? Yes. But a trade? He has said numerous times that he wants to finish his career here.

As for me, tonight I'll have an icepack on the right jaw and be sipping through a straw.

But I'll be back at practice bright---maybe still a tad swollen---and early tomorrow to report on the preparations for the Isles' visit to MSG, where the Rangers will try to snap their losing streak against their Nassau County neighbors.

I'd prefer Chris Drury centering Jagr and Straka (thought a note on that combo reunion in the third period Sunday made it into today's paper, but must have been trimmed for space) and Dubinsky centering Callahan and Prucha.

Among the factors (pro and con) to weigh:

Jagr says he loves playing with Dubinsky, who grinds and cycles. I like the kid. But he's still young, we don't know how he'll hold up on a first line during his first season (two goals, two assists in last 15 games) and perhaps is better off on the third line with players closer to his age. Don't think it will hurt his confidence at all.

Drury is experienced, anticipates plays in all three zones, is a better scorer and faceoff man, although Dubinsky is getting better on the dots. I'm not sure Drury will get rolling on the third line. And if Jagr continues to set up teammates, Drury will fire away, as will Straka, especially on rebounds. You lose some size without Dubinsky, but maybe gain something on two lines.

The fourth-line issue won't be as important if somehow lines 1, 2 and 3 manufacture much more than a goal a game. Can't keep depending on the d-men for scoring.

Again, the power play simply has to be better than 23rd in the league. Climbing to the top 15 or better is essential. It should happen with Straka and Avery healthy, and perhaps Callahan will deserve a shift or two down the road. Bottom line: More deflections and burying rebounds.

Greg Moore's return to Hartford means that the Rangers are finally flush with healthy forwards, with Ryan Callahan---barring a setback---expected to be ready for the Islanders game on Thursday at MSG.

The 22-year-old right wing contributed six goals in 14 regular-season and 10 playoff games last year and had one score before spraining his knee in Pittsburgh on Oct. 23 and going on IR.

With Sean Avery, Martin Straka and Callahan back from injuries, one forward will be a healthy scratch Thursday.

The choices? Well, Marcel Hossa and Petr Prucha combined for zero shots on goal against the Stars. It's conceivable that enforcer Colton Orr will dress against the Islanders. Ryan Hollweg, Prucha and Hossa are left---not right---wings, but could be looking over their shoulders.

On Sunday, Prucha played 10:47 with no power-play minutes. Straka played 4:56 with the man-advantage and I don't see that changing. Just an opinion, but if Callahan's ready, I might give Hossa (0-3-3 in 20 games) or Hollweg (0-1-1 in 24 and minus 4) a night off against the Isles and find a way to give Prucha some PP time down low.

So, a possible third line: Prucha-Drury-Callahan; with Orr-Betts-Hossa/Hollweg as the fourth.

Thoughts? Comments?

Welcome to a Sunday matinee.

Rangers coach Tom Renney just said that both Martin Straka and Greg Moore will skate in the warmups and one will play. Straka, who tweaked a hamstring in Florida in his first game back after missing 15 with a broken finger, "is fine," Renney said.

Ryan Callahan, out since Oct. 23 with a severely sprained knee, might play on Thursday here against the Islanders. "He skated really well this morning (in Westchester), he just needs a couple more."

This is the first Dallas visit in four years and Renney said he enjoys non-conference games. "There's that extra mystery, a little element of doubt."

Dallas' speed is impressive, their special teams are excellent, said Renney and if the Rangers aren't ready, "We'll be hanging on for dear life."

Some quick hits:

Martin Straka tweaked a hamstring in his first game back after sitting for 15 with a broken finger; he is day-to-day. Ryan Callahan is expected back tomorrow; may make sense to rest Straka against Dallas....

Nigel Dawes had two goals and two assists for the Wolf Pack.

C Joel Lundqvist, Henrik's twin, has been called up by the Stars.

With backup Steve Valiquette playing well in his two starts, and Al Montoya hurt, guess the rumor-mongers can put aside any proposed trades for awhile.

Will Drury's two goals put him back on the right track?

No word yet on whether Greg Moore and/or defenseman Ivan Barnaka have been re-assigned.

What's the over/under on Marek Malik playing again? Against Isles on Thursday?

Later....

Move over, Henrik.
It appears Stephen Valiquette, who won in Toronto on Nov. 10, will be in the cage tonight against the Panthers, according to reports from Florida.
And Martin Straka will return, as predicted, after missing 15 games, on Jagr's line.
So reading the tea leaves, Lundqvist will start on Sunday at home against Dallas, and Ryan Callahan will be back as well.
Greg Moore will sit if Avery's hand is OK (and seems to be). Rozsival (knee), who missed the Tampa game, is expected back as well.
More later...

C/RW Greg Moore (18 points in 18 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack) and defenseman Ivan Baranka will start tonight in Tampa, according to John Dellapina down in Tampa. (Happy Thanksgiving from back north, Dell).

Baranka will play with Jason Strudwick while Michal Rozsival, (sore knee) who rested yesterday, takes another day off.

Moore's role is uncertain, because it appears C Chris Drury will move to left wing with Jaromir Jagr and Brandon Dubinsky, as Tom Renney tries to find some punch and revive both Jagr (one shot in last two games) and Drury.

Whatever the third line----Moore could center Prucha and Hossa---the second and fourth line will probably remain intact, but that's unclear, and things will change again perhaps as soon as Friday against the Panthers or Sunday at home against Dallas, when Martin Straka (finger) and Ryan Callahan (knee) are expected to return. I'd imagine Drury will return to center at some point, maybe with Jagr and Straka, and Dubinsky slides down to a third line with former Pack teammate Callahan? Just guessing...

Wrapping up all the last-minute preps before tomorrow's feast so I can settle in later by the fireplace. Should be an intriguing game to watch. May peek in on Isles-Canadiens as well...

Life beckons.

Having covered all the Rangers home and away games except one, I'm taking the rest of the week off to celebrate Thanksgiving with my wife, daughter and the rest of our family. Will be back at the Garden Sunday for the Stars' matinee.

If there's major news, I'll step back here and write, and perhaps offer some thoughts during the two Florida games, which a stringer will cover for Newsday.

It appears that right wing Greg Moore will play with Chris Drury and Petr Prucha. Ivan Baranka is here because Jason Strudwick's leg is bruised after being hit with an Islanders shot.

Dawes (as Bruce Berlet of the Hartford Courant told me on the phone a while ago) is disappointed at his return to the Pack, but will persevere. The Rangers told him he needs to round out his game. But it's also about numbers.

As written here previously, Callahan may play on the second or third line when he returns in a week, and Straka with Jagr and Dubinsky. Hossa could be on the fourth line or on the bench.

Me? I'll be keeping one eye on the turkey and one on the NHL. Here's hoping all of you can enjoy the holiday as well.

Listen guys and gals, I know Greg Logan, worked with him for years and he's a terrific reporter who has covered numerous sports. He's not a homer. So please do not rip him publicly and anonymously here. That is gutless.

If anyone wants to call me a homer and unprofessional without using your name, hey, that's fine. It shows very little class and even less perspective.

Last I checked, my e-mail address is on every story. But everyone's entitled to vent and express an opinion (as long as the language is suitable), even if its so wrong, it's laughable.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.

A day after losing to the Islanders, the Rangers called for reinforcements, summoning forward Greg Moore, the Hartford WolfPack's best player this season---for the third time---and defenseman Ivan Baranka for the first time.

Nigel Dawes, who had four goals---three against the Devils---was returned to Hartford.

Moore, a Maine native, will likely make his NHL debut in Florida tomorrow night.

More later....

"They managed their game well," said Tom Renney. "In the neutral zone they clogged us up...We tried to do too much."

Here's a shocker: "The power play's gotta get better. It's that simple."

DP handled the puck well, and the Rangers didn't keep it away from him. Next practrice should involve softer chips in.

"We allowed them to play their game," said Brendan Shanahan afterward. "I don't think the smarts were there tonight. We were all on our own page...You watch us, it's a bunch of guys skating in circles."

An opportunity for two big division points. Given away. Not even close.

...the fewest the Rangers had all season. Mystifying how they went down awfully quietly.

So much for the five-game winning streak.

Hate to focus on one aspect right now, but Hossa's expiration date on Jagr's line has arrived. Tom Renney shouldn't wait for Martin Straka to return, put Prucha or someone else there.

As for the (0-for-4) powerless play---with two, just two shots---another shuffle should be, has to be, in store. Maybe Jagr needs to move to the slot.

And Lundqvist needs to stop one shot, either Fedotenko's shot or Vasicek's. But it was a perplexing, disappointing team effort, particularly in not testing DP.

Nineteen shots---at home---is simply unacceptable.

First of all, how does Hossa not shoot and curl toward the boards?

Jagr then is denied by DP

Jagr, Shanahan, Drury, Gomez, nothing in two games.

At least Drury drew a penalty from Sutton for one last opportunity.

Wise time-out.

But what can I say, I'm skeptical.

One post by Berard, and two huge saves on Vasicek and Simon, by Lundqvist on the Isles power play...Isles seem to sense Rangers are frustrated and will just try to clear the puck the rest of the way...Rangers power play, as we warned here earlier, is flat again.

Apologies, the blog worms were at work and couldn't file for about an hour.
But if you were watching or listening, you know that the Rangers' forwards need to find the net.
Good for Rozsival and his shortie, but some forward, any forward, needs to step up.
Jagr and Drury seem as if they're under some spell carried over from Pittsburgh. Isles are capitalizing on mistakes.I think Lundqvist should've had Vasicek's goal.
Would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in the Rangers locker room between the second and third. Could be a nasty third period
Dave Maloney just said it reminded him of the 1979 battles between these rivals.

Don't think I've ever seen this before....six icings in under four minutes by the Islanders...good hit by Hollweg...first shot by Jagr...no shots on goal by Isles yet...Lundqvist had to be quick on Hunter's try, didn't he? More in a bit...

Yep, I'll be blogging right here and checking your assessments as the game unfolds tonight, so in addition to Greg Logan and Mark Herrmann's coverage of Rangers-Islanders, Volume 3 this year, yours truly will serve up a little pre-Thanksgiving hors d'oeuvre for dedicated followers....

As we're all aware, in their first eight games of the season, the Rangers earned just five points (2-5-1) and faced questions not only from the media and fans, but from themselves.

Some of those issues----line combinations, confidence, sticking with a game plan, when would Henrik Lundqvist get a breather---have been addressed. Not all, mind you, many.

Tonight, before the Rangers travel to Florida for games with the Lightning and Panthers, they have the chance to answer another question. Emphatically. Can they beat the Islanders?

The Rangers are 7-3 in the Atlantic Division, which they lead by two points. The Islanders, who have won both games at the Coliseum this season, visit the Garden where the Rangers have won eight of 10.

The Islanders are among the least penalized teams in the league, so the Rangers need a 60-minute effort to match the Islanders' daily hustle. Getting the puck deep early and often to force the defense into hurried plays or hooking and holding would seem to be a priority. If that happens, the Rangers must cash in on at least one power play, because goaltender Rick DiPietro (even with Sean Avery in his grill) seems to rise to the occasion against them.

Thanks for posting your message-board ideas on the PP. All sensible options and observations, except I'd hesitate to use Dawes on the point. Straka when he returns, probably, although Mara, Girardi, Rozsival seem like the three sure-fire candidates for those slots, with Staal and Tyutin rotating in.

And sure, having a player in front with the eye-hand coordination for tip-ins (Brendan Shanahan) makes immense sense, and Prucha/Drury for rebounds. And on a coaching issue, if the first unit with Jaromir Jagr, Shanahan, Scott Gomez, Mara and Rozsival is fizzling, by all means, Tom Renney needs to pull them off before the one-minute-plus mark, and send out a fresh crew(as it now stands, Sean Avery, Brandon Dubinsky, Drury, Tyutin and Girardi) The sloppy man-advantage time in Pittsburgh has to be avoided.

How will it all shake out? Swing by tonight while you're watching or listening and we'll discuss....

Some Sunday thoughts after arriving from Pittsburgh amid the early Thanksgiving travellers....

Great streak, with lots of contributions. A chink in the armor: the power play.

Girardi's goal was a big one against the Pens, but one for the last 23 won't cut it.
Overall the Rangers are 16-for-104 (15.4 percent), 20th in the league.

Paul Mara, on the second unit, had plenty of chances in Pittsburgh and played very well overall. Alarmingly, Jagr had zero shots in that game, including in 7:58 on the power play.
Drury had no shots in the game, including 3:28 on the PP. The passes aren't quick enough, the PK has time to re-set and clog lanes. And of course, the hesitation, before shooting, seems to be spreading.

Coach Tom Renney wasn't satisified after the game in Pittsburgh when we spoke with him, and will keep tinkering. My opinion? Time to throw Prucha out there again, and keep Drury down low, not on the point.

Your suggestions?

Against the Pens, all six d-men had points. Interestingly, in the first match with the Islanders at the Coliseum in the third game of the year, all three goals in the 2-1 Isles win were scored by d-men: Bergeron, Tyutin and Berard. On Nov. 6 there, Mara had a goal and assist.

Some more coverage, if you haven't caught up: A notebook from Pittsburgh, http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/rangers/nysprnotes185466492nov18,0,1686864.story...
and on the Rangers page

and my weekly Sunday NHL column: http://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/ny-spzip185466417nov18,0,5381007.column....or check under columnists at newsday.com

Back later...

In one of the more improbable games of the season, three Rangers defensemen scored four goals---with the topper being the winner in overtime by a classic stay-at-home d-man, Jason Strudwick---to defeat the Penguins 4-3 here in Pittsburgh.

Two goals in the first 4:05 of the second stanza by Michal Rozsival and one with less than two minutes to go by Dan Girardi wiped out a 2-0 lead forged by Sidney Crosby in the first. It was the first time this season that happened.

When Petr Sykora tied the game at 3 with less than six minutes to play, the smart money was on overtime. And that's what happened.

Thanks to Rozsival, Girardi and Strudwick, who played most of last season in Switzerland and was signed to a $500,000. free agent contract this summer after a brief stint in New York at the end of last season, the Rangers have won nine of ten and are in sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division.

"We haven't taken a backseat to anyone," said Rangers coach Tom Renney.
"Our season has been one of hard work and determination and we haven't gotten the results we've wanted, but lately we have."

An amazing, topsy-turvy night at Mellon Arena, one that will be remembered when there's a chance to look back on the season.

"I don't think there's a guy in our organization that doesn't think wonderful things of Jason," said Renney. "It's a very big two points for us against a terrific team. It's one of those nights where it couldn't happen to a better guy."

"Four defensemen scored," said Pens coach Michel Therrien. "It's a sign that things are going well for you. Things are going really well for the Rangers right now."

Coming next to the Garden: The Islanders on Monday. Strap yourselves in.

So we're hearing that two teams may open in Sweden next season, and two in Prague. The Rangers, Pittsburgh, Ottawa, Detroit and Tampa apparently are in the mix. If you've been reading closely, John Dellapina at the News has reported that the Rangers were in the Prague mix, which was on hold, and I mentioned the Rangers-WIngs possibility in Sweden in a later Sunday column. Stay tuned...

Mellon Arena, noon.

The last time the Rangers were here, on Oct. 23rd, the Penguins' Evgeni Malkin scored on a second-period power play and the goal stood up for a 1-0 win. And Ryan Callahan collided with Nigel Dawes, sprained his knee and hasn't played since.

Callahan, 22, who scored on opening night of the season, skated today and is closer to returning. After an extended post-practice session with Martin Straka and Marek Malik, also recovering from injuries, the right wing said he wasn't haunted by the scene or "what-ifs."

"Nah, you don't think about it," he said. "Things always happen in hockey. The knee feels better, now it's just a matter of conditioning. I'm getting it looked at again Monday and we'll go from there."

Straka is favoring his broken index finger and was only sliding pucks at backup Stephen Valiquette (Henrik Lundqvist, Scott Gomez and Michal Rozsival skipped the optional morning skate) and I'm guessing Callahan may be back sooner than Straka. Marek Malik was feeding pucks from the corner to defensemen shooting from the blue line, and he will miss his eighth game after bruising his ribs and back in a Nov. 1 spill against the Caps.

***

The Rangers (11-7-1) are looking for a sweep of this four-game road trip, and wore red and blue "Liberty" practice jerseys, which aren't worn in games because the NHL temporarily ended the "third" jersey concept.

***
Who's hot? Gomez has an eight-game point streak; Brendan Shanahan has five goals, four assists and two shootout goals in the last nine games; Sean Avery has two goals and five assists in five games and the Rangers are 6-1 since he returned from his shoulder sprain. Ten players have scored the 13 goals in the last four games: Shanahan 2, Avery 2, Brandon Dubinsky 2, Jaromir Jagr, Gomez, Petr Prucha, Dawes, Fedor Tyutin, Rozsival, Marc Staal.

***
Jordan Staal---pointless in the last 12 games---has been slumping, but happily messaged his brother Marc when the Rangers rookie defenseman scored his first NHL goal against the Devils. "Texted him immediately," said Staal, who scored 27 goals last season. "Great shot."

***
"I think it's gonna be tight, it's always tight again the Rangers."
That was Sidney Crosby's assessment for tonight, as the Penguins (8-10-1) try to climb out of an stuttering early-season start and have been involved in numerous close games. "In a way, it's good playing with a little bit of fear," said Crosby, who is 10-18-28 in 19 games. He's centering Ryan Malone and Petr Sykora.

***
Veteran right wing Mark Recchi, a healthy scratch against the Islanders in the last game, will dress. Colby Armstrong, Darryl Sydor and Tyler Kennedy are the expected scratches for the Pens.

***
MSG director Bobby Lewis made it to his first practice of the season. Not here, but Friday at the Spectrum in Philly, where he directed many a Flyers-Rangers tussle. "It still smells the same," he declared, according to my spies.

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In three weeks.

Well, a tie for first atop the Atlantic Division, courtesy of another Shanahan shootout winner and impeccable shootout play by Lundqvist, who battled in the third as the Flyers refused to give in.

Even with a woeful (0-for-5) power play, the Rangers scored three times. Not a bad sign. They also limited Philly to 23 shots, including two in OT.

That's eight of nine. including last night at Wachovia, not an easy place to play.

Seems like the pieces are coming together. Against the Devils, it was the rookies.
Tonight, it was Gomez and Avery with two helpers each and Prucha, with his first goal since opening night and Tyutin, who was overdue.

The Rangers d-men by the way, have nine of the 41 goals, I'm guessing that's ahead of last year's scoring pace at this point. We'll check tomorrah. I've got a long drive home ahead.

In the meantime all you fans, enjoy. Stop complaining. Forget the Islanders. Ignore the trolls. This team is on a little roll again. Talk about it.

Check in later, OK?

...where the Rangers are looking for their fourth straight win and first place in the Atlantic Division.
Imagine that, considering the poor start.
Scott Gomez, by the way, has a seven-game point streak.

***
Sean Avery showed his global financial acumen when he saw a gang of writers outside the visitors' locker room at Wachovia Center. "Looks like a G-8 summit," said Avery.

*** Overhearing a conversation about someone reaching 90 years old (Bob Sheppard or Bill "The Big Whistle" Chadwick), Jagr, finished working on his sticks, said jokingly, "Who? Marty?", referring, I presume, to Brodeur. Not his pal Straka. Speaking of Chadwick, word is that the Dallas game after Thanksgiving will be televised on Ch. 9.

***
It's a little like an old-fashioned road trip for the Rangers, who chartered an Amtrak train from Newark's Penn Station to travel here last night. I'm told it was stocked with tubs of ice and beer, food, salads, fruit and took about 45 minutes. They will skate tomorrow at the old Spectrum next door on Broad Street before flying to Pittsburgh.

***

Same lineup for the back-to-back, as the Rangers try to avoid an 0-3 in the second game of a series...

NEWARK----In his first visit to the Garden State as a rival Ranger tonight, Scott Gomez fully expects to be booed.

"Hey, Jersey fans are passionate. I didn't think I was gonna get the ceremonial puck drop," said Gomez, who signed a seven-year, $51.5-million contract across the river in July. "Not many people are happy with me. I'm gonna get it all night."

"I think it would be a lot different for me if it was Continental," he said, referring to the East Rutherford rink where skated for seven years with the Devils. "There's no feeling I'm a part of it here. I'm a Ranger now."

Gomez' comments came after the Rangers worked out this morning on the ice here at Prudential Center, which he called "pretty impressive...I came here with Dano (Ken Daneyko), when it was first under construction and then once with Mr. Vanderbeek (the Devils owner) to see the displays. It's good to be back in Jersey."

As for the crowd reaction, "It's going to be interesting. A few people have already given me the heads-up."

A win would give goaltender Martin Brodeur his 500th NHL victory. "It's amazing when you think about it," said Rangers coach Tom Renney, who prefers that Brodeur reaches that mark on another night. Patrick Roy leads all goalkeepers with 551 career wins. The next closest active goaltender to Brodeur is Dominik Hasek with 345 wins.

The lines, at least for awhile, in the skate, were:

Hossa-Dubinsky-Jagr
Shanahan-Gomez-Avery
Dawes-Drury-Prucha
Hollweg-Betts-Orr

Jason Strudwick was first on the ice here, which is supposed to be fine....Marek Malik didn't skate, and Marty Straka and Ryan Callahan (as reported days ago) aren't close to playing. And for the poster who said I didn't mention Belak's threat, please check back in these archives to late Saturday night for his quotes, which I attributed to the Canadian papers.)