Rangers Notebook: 4.11.09

Rangers notes for your Saturday morning:

Rangers.com: Rangers give annual team awards.

SNY: 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park.

Sounds like the Bruins opponent for the game is narrowed down to the Canadiens or the Rangers, or the Flyers or Capitals, depending on who you believe. I really hope they choose the Canadiens, for two reasons. One, I think it's about time this game feature a team from Canada, and two, I would rather see the Rangers get their own Winter Classic in 2011. However, I want to see this game played at the new Giants Stadium that opens next season. Rangers hosting the Maple Leafs at Giants Stadium in February of 2011 sounds good to me.

Playoff tickets go on sale Monday. Individual tickets will go on sale at noon via Ticketmaster at newyorkrangers.com and by phone at 212-307-7171. Four tickets per person (maximum) can be purchased per game for the six potential home games in the first and second rounds.

Henrik Lundqvist will play tomorrow night; he said he will be aiming for his own personal goal of 38 wins. The previous two years, he has won 37. Also, John Tortorella said he wouldn't use Sunday's game as an opportunity to rest guys heading into the playoffs. Basically, don't expect any lack of intensity in the last game of the regular season. I told you Tortorella had some Tom Coughlin in him.

A follow-up story to this on Newsday.com. I like the idea of the Rangers going all out tomorrow. They still have much to work on, and I think Sunday's game is going to be an important one for players who may be on the bubble when it comes to their ice time. Nik Zherdev, I'm talking about you.

Monday is the 69^th anniversary of the 1940 Stanley Cup, which is amazing to me, because the Rangers won the Cup on April 13^th of 1940, and on April 13^th of 2009, the playoffs won't even be underway.

Tom Powers on TwinCities.com has an interesting idea for bringing back division rivalries. I have to admit, I miss the old Patrick Division days, I always felt the league lost some of its identity when they took the names off the conferences and copied the NBA model. Bring back the good old days of the Patrick, Norris, Smythe, and Adams divisions.

Finally, this article from a Bruins fan on The Bleacher Report says Bruins fans should be praying for a first round matchup with the Rangers.  Personally, I don't see how the Bruins should see the Rangers as some sort of "break" in the first round. The Rangers split the season series with the Boston, and the two games they lost were by a combined score of 2-0. I think the Rangers-Bruins would be a great physical series, and I honestly believe it's a series the Rangers could win.

So, who would you rather see the Blueshirts play in the first round?