Blue Notes
Steve Zipay takes you inside the locker room, home and on the road, with the New York Rangers, and also writes about the NHL, off and on the ice.
Marc Staal, unable to join All-Staal team, happy for brothers
Photo credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Marc Staal’s younger brother, Jared, 22, who was called up from the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers on Wednesday for his Hurricanes debut, on Thursdaynight will be part of the fourth brother trio to appear in an NHL game.
“It’s awesome,” said Marc, the Rangers defenseman who would have been part of the quartet if not for a right eye injury from a deflected shot on March 5. “I was excited yesterday...
Read more »Marc Staal is Masterton Trophy nominee
Photo credit: AP
RALEIGH -- Marc Staal, who hopes to return soon from an injury that damaged his right eye---the second major setback in two years to the former All-Star defenseman---has been nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
The trophy, awarded annually since 1967-68 to the NHL player whobest exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to the game. The nomination...
Read more »Dan Girardi wins Halligan Good Guy Award
Photo credit: Jim McIsaac
RALEIGH, N.C. -- For his co-operation with the media this season, defenseman Dan Girardi was the recipient of the John Halligan Good Guy Award by the members of the New York Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Girardi, 28, is in his seventh season with the Rangers. He leads the team and is among the top five in the NHL in blocked shots and top ten in time on ice. Girardi...
Read more »What's Ahead: A quick look at the bottom 4 battle in the East
Four teams are separated by three points; only one is in.
No. 6
ISLANDERS: With 54 points after the SO loss in Carolina, they’re in; last two games are vs. Flyers and Sabres, each of whom won last night, so 6th is not secured.
ROW tiebreaker: 20
No. 7
SENATORS: With 52 points, Ottawa has fate in hands. They have three games left, more...
Read more »Your 2012-13 NYR: Consistently inconsistent
Photo credit: Getty Images
Off to the airport to fly to Raleigh in a hour or so, but a couple thoughts first:
Discouraging clunker in Sunrise last night, especially with so much on the line.
But that’s the consistent inconsistency we’ve written and talked about virtually all of the season, especially after losses on the road: Buffalo, Philly, the oh-for-Canada six-game streak. Your Blueshirts are 9-12-2 on the...
Read more »How the Rangers can clinch a playoff spot Tuesday
Photo credit: Jim McIsaac
Greetings, and salutations, from a very breezy south Florida.
Rangers did not have a morning skate Tuesday; just a meeting.
Expect same lineup, and with Henrik Lundqvist in goal, as he told us Monday after practice. Friendly reminder: 7:30 start.
OK, let’s do the math. No. 9 Winnipeg has 51 points, with two games remaining, and faces Washington. The seventh-place Rangers...
Read more »Tale of Martin Biron's skate tape
Photo credit: Getty Images
If you're in the Rangers locker room, the odds are good that you will see Martin Biron patiently wrapping or unwrapping his skates with yards and yards of clear tape.
How much has he used in his 15-year NHL career? He took a writer's notebook the other day, did the math, and estimated: 30 miles, counting practices and games.
"I first saw [Toronto goalie] Felix Potvin with it when...
Read more »Welcome from windy Buffalo...
Photo credit: AP
Hello, ladies and gents and kids of all ages....Thanks again for following here and on twitter @stevezipay, and in the paper, if possible. Does a young heart good....
Just back from the morning skate and brief QnA with coach John Tortorella.
What we know:
Henrik Lundqvist will start his 10th straight game tonight against the Sabres, who have won three straight and will open with...
Read more »Rangers line shuffle to start versus Panthers
Clowe-Brassard-Nash
Hagelin-Stepan-Callahan
Pyatt-Richards-Zuccarello
Kreider-Powe-Asham
Let's not get antsy here....Without solid results, this will likely change by the second period. But remember the Rangers have just three goals in the last seven-plus periods, hence, the blender...
The defense:
McDonagh-Girardi,
Del Zotto-Stralman
Moore-Eminger.
Lundqvist...
Read more »5 things to know from NYR morning skate
1. Chris Kreider, recalled yesterday, as covered here and in the paper, will indeed play tonight at home against Florida. Brian Boyle is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury, the team confirmed. Boyle injured his right leg on a check Tuesday in Philadelphia. It appears to be a knee problem, but team is not discussing.
2. Henrik Lundqvist will start his ninth...
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