Rangers News and Notes: GameDay Edition
There is no morning skate today because of the early start time (5 PM), but here are a few stories for your Sunday morning:
Steve Zipay over at Blue Notes has confirmed that Steve Valiquette will start in goal tonight against the Ducks:
Backup goaltender Steve Valiquette, 10-8 in 28 appearances over the past two seasons, will start tomorrow against the Ducks. Henrik Lundqvist, who had started the first four games of the season, would be back against the Leafs on Monday night at the Garden..
Also, sounds like Sean Avery is ready to go:
Sean Avery, who wore a yellow No. 27 jersey, looked solid on the ice, including scoring three straight on Lundqvist in one drill, said there was nothing he wouldn't be able to do on Sunday, "except play goal."
Also, Jim Cerny over at Rangers.com has a preview of tonight's game:
In their three straight wins, the Rangers have impressed Tortorella by winning several different ways. In last Saturday’s 5-2 victory at home over the Ottawa Senators, the Rangers relied on their skating and offensive skills to earn the win. Two nights later in New Jersey, the Rangers "grinded" -- to use Tortorella’s definition -- their way to a 3-2 road victory.
More after the jump.......
From today's NY Post, more on the return of Sean Avery, who was centering the fourth line in practice:
Yesterday, when Avery got into full line drills, he centered that fourth line, with Boyle sitting out.
Avery hasn't played center since his days in Los Angeles -- three years ago -- but he feels that no matter where he is, or whom he's skating with, he can be effective.
"I just play hard and play my style of game," Avery said. "So whatever is the best fit for me is fine with me."
Although Avery took Boyle's place in practice, it's hard to tell if Tortorella would be willing to sit the 6-foot-6 center from Boston College, mostly because he has been a cog in the very effective penalty-kill unit.
Finally, although this is more NHL-related, TSN is reporting that the Mayor of Quebec City and Gary Bettman have
had discussions about returning the NHL to the former home of the Nordiques:
I think this would be terrific for the NHL, and for the fans up there. In 1995 my brother and I went to Quebec City for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between the Rangers and Nordiques, and it really bothered me when the Nordiques relocated to Colorado not long after that series. The fans up there were terrific, very passionate about hockey. It would be great of the obstacles that doomed the Nordiques (lack of English coverage of the team, economy) could be overcome so hockey can flourish in Quebec City again. Plus, I would love to see this great logo put to use.
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Quebec
Agreed, great market with passionate fans. NHL needs to stop trying to force situations that aren’t working and focus on the markets that will thrive. Canada could easily support more teams. Some of the expansion markets have worked, others haven’t – time to move on. On another note, there was an article not too long ago that posed the idea of more markets with smaller arenas (15k insteads of 18k capacity). Think this might be a more effective way to grow the game.
good to see avery back. im guessing the 4th line is just temporary.
hopefully vally can play well.
honestly, i would have rather seen vally play against toronto. i feel we ccan easily beat toronto with vally, but the ducks. itll be tough
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
Not so sure it's temporary
Tortorella seems to like what Lisin brings, and Avery is only one game and one long offseason removed from getting the pine-ass treatment against the Caps in a pivotal playoff game.
It would not be out of the question for Avery to play the 4th line for a bit and Tortorella using a line of Brashear-Boyle-Avery or something as an energy line. Sean could get PP time to make up for the minutes he loses at ES.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Oct 11, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions
I can agree with that scenario (Voros sitting, Avery on the wing) than sitting Boyle. Boyle really has impressed, I think, at least on the defensive side of the puck. I’m thinking Torts is working on versatility plus giving him the option of sitting someone other than Lisin or Voros (AA?).
by Lunkwill Fook on Oct 11, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
i much rather see avery on the third than lisin.
lisins nice and all, but lets not get carried away. i muhc much much rather have avery. seems like ranger fans have very short-term memory.
do you forget what avery has done for the rangers?
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
I'm not saying I'd play him on the 3rd line
I’m saying that there is evidence that he may stay on the 4th line.
Take emotion out of it for a second. Given that Avery got scratched in a playoff game despite history, it says that Tortorella, who had spoke out against Avery before he came to the team, has little patience for Sean’s antics. But he does respect the game he can play, so he’s not going to bury him.
Giving him 4th line time along with PP time (say, 10-12 minutes a game total) might be a way to increase Sean’s effectiveness. This is a different team than Renney’s Rangers, so in some respects the team’s record with Sean in the lineup is not applicable. The energy level and speed, Avery’s two key qualities, are matched if not surpassed by several of the additions this year.
He’s obviously a fan favorite, but this isn’t about who our favorite player is, or Rozsival would get 0 minutes and Brashear would’ve been assassinated already, or vice versa. It’s about analysizing the situation and noting that the temperment of the coach + the temperment of the player may mean a changing of roles, whether we happen to like it or not.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Oct 11, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
i actually do like that idea, atleast for a bit, so avery becomes a bit humbled and might help him not so much change his game, but use his head out there more.
im guessing u dont see avery gettin that other A then, huh smurf?
fyi this giant game is soooo boring
I don't see why not
There’s no reason you can’t give him the other A and still play him in the role I described.
I don’t believe that he was getting the A though, no. I think it was Dubinsky’s and the holdout hurt him. I still think Brandon will get it, but Tortorella may be making him earn it.
Or he’s not assigning another A. That’s also possible.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Oct 11, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions
canada should have 2 more teams or so..
theres atleast 4 teams in the nhl that should be moved.
quebec winnipeg hamilton milwaukee seattle would all be good places for teams i think
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
true..
canada should get 2 teams, and I have been saying for awhile that seattle would be a great place for hockey to flourish plus all there other teams are terrible, also milwaukee would be a good town. (atlanta, tampa bay, phoenix and florida are all possibilities) plus the islanders situation even though there hav been talks about kansas city and brooklyn for them..
That Ranger/Nordiques series in 96 was fantastic
Gary Thorne=Simply the Best!
by The American Mr.Hockey on Oct 11, 2009 4:09 PM EDT reply actions

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