NASHVILLE, Tenn. — They are the last-place Rangers, and any remaining optimism for this season is dwindling. The Blueshirts got bloodied and bullied in a 5-2 loss to the Predators on Saturday night here at Bridgestone Arena. In the process, they could have lost both Marc Staal and Jimmy Vesey, each unable to return to […]
Read MoreDoug Weight was non-committal about how long they will last, but the Islanders coach rolled out a new top two lines Saturday. It was a simple tweak — flipping Anthony Beauvillier to the first line for Anders Lee — but Weight said he liked the early results. “I think it was Leesy’s best game in […]
Read MoreNASHVILLE, Tenn. — Alain Vigneault didn’t use the word concussion, but he didn’t need to. The Rangers coach made it pretty clear what was likely wrong with Marc Staal and Jimmy Vesey, his two players who were both forced from the team’s 5-2 loss to the Predators on Saturday night with separate unpenalized hits to […]
Read MoreDALLAS — Just how, exactly, were the Rangers supposed to react Saturday night in Nashville when two of their players were taken out with egregious headshots, neither resulting in a penalty? The emotional response would have been to retaliate, and that might have been easier to swallow the next day rather than just a tepid […]
Read MoreDALLAS — Out of necessity, Vinni Lettieri is getting another chance. The Rangers called up the winger from AHL Hartford on Sunday to replace injured Jimmy Vesey, who was hurt on an unpenalized hit to the head from Filip Forsberg during the Blueshirts’ 5-2 loss to the Predators in Nashville on Saturday night. There was […]
Read MoreDALLAS — Rick Nash was expecting it, but that didn’t make it any easier when it finally became a reality. Nash was asked by general manager Jeff Gorton to submit his list of 18 teams he would not accept a trade to, meaning there are 12 remaining that Gorton can deal with in the lead-up […]
Read MoreThe full-face shield that he’s had to wear in recent weeks has been a bit cumbersome, but the rest of Ryan Pulock’s game has been growing more and more comfortable. The Islanders defenseman isn’t alone. Pulock and fellow rookie Sebastian Aho have taken advantage of increased opportunity, partly created by injuries on the blue line, […]
Read MoreAs if like clockwork for the Islanders, the shots against piled higher and higher Monday night, reaching 37 through the first two periods at Barclays Center. They did lead where it mattered through those 40 minutes, though, thanks again in part to battered goalie Jaroslav Halak, and carried a one-goal lead to the final period. […]
Read MoreDALLAS — It’s getting gloomy around the Rangers, and they know it. The Blueshirts dropped their sixth game in the past seven with a 2-1 loss to the Stars on Monday night at American Airlines Center. They have now lost nine of their past 12 and are 6-11-2 over their past 19, having won just […]
Read MoreDALLAS — A full prognosis won’t be available until Marc Staal sees the Rangers doctors in New York sometime in the next few days, but it has to be at least somewhat encouraging that the veteran defenseman did not suffer another concussion. Staal was diagnosed with a “cervical strain” after being plowed into the corner […]
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