Rangers News and Notes: Morning Edition 10.19.09, prospect updates

Good Morning Everyone,

As you settle in at work or school, here are some morning notes to keep you as unproductive as possible. It's just part of the free service we provide here at Blueshirt Banter:

Sharks-Rangers Preview from the San Jose-Mercury News.

Rangers the surprise of the East (Toronto Globe and Mail)

Andrew Gross at Ranger Rants talks about how the Rangers need to refocus with the Sharks coming in tonight:

"I think it refocuses the players and that certainly isn’t disrespectful to Toronto," Rangers coach John Tortorella said of his team’s winless opponent in two of their last three games. "But it is what it is. We can sit here and dodge it but it is what it is. We need to be focused because that’s a pretty good hockey club coming in tomorrow night."

Steve Zipay has some thoughts on Henrik Lundqvist:

No one's saying, but Henrik Lundqvist should start against San Jose and the Devils on Thursday. He's been terrific. While Tortorella says the players have to concentrate, win battles and avoid dumb penalties, he ain't talking bout The King, who is claiming his crown.     

More after the jump.....

Henrik Lundqvist isn't the only goaltender dealing with being run into. Buffalo's Ryan Miller is having the same problem, and when he talked to the Buffalo News,  Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff said its a disturbing trend:

 "I saw a game against the Rangers where they absolutely plowed Lundqvist over a couple times. I think some of that is strategy now. I think that's going to be the trend to disrupt teams that aren't giving up a lot, or a hot goaltender.

"I more than expect it. It's not anything new. I think when teams get frustrated with not scoring goals, then you get more and more powerful people going through the paint."

Rangers team report from Yahoo Sports:

Finally, for those of you that didn't see it, Rangers first round draft pick Chris Kreider made his NCAA debut yesterday for Boston College in their 4-1 loss to Vermont. I got to see a good portion of the game, Kreider is as advertised, terrific skater with a quick shot. He did make a defensive mistake that lead to a Vermont goal, but aside from that played a strong game from what I saw. Here is the full recap from the Boston Globe.

As for Ranger prospects Ryan McDonagh and Derek Stepan, who are both at the University of Wisconsin, the Badgers lost their opener Friday night, and then skated to a 1-1 tie with Colorado College. It was an up and down game for the future Blueshirts, as McDonagh took a bad penalty which left the Badgers two men down, and Colorado College scored their loan goal on that 5 on 3. However, Derek Stepan did set up the tying goal by Andy Bombach