December 14, 2011, New York Rangers notebook for Metro Newspaper in NYC
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The Rangers — at least as envisioned by Glen Sather and John Tortorella during the offseason — have not been whole at any point during the 2011-12 campaign.
Injuries have not stopped the Rangers from posting the National Hockey League’s fourth-best record entering Monday. And now, it seems reinforcements are coming from within.
Mike Rupp, Marc Staal and Wojtek Wolski all skated at the Rangers’ early skate at the Garden Tuesday morning. Staal and Wolski wore the orange, non-contact jerseys while Rupp, according to Tortorella had, “that god-awful orange shirt off of him. He’s still day-to-day, but he’s cleared to practice.”
Staal said he feels “pretty good, and was excited just to jump on the ice for a pre-game skate. The workouts have gone well. The next step was to jump on the ice with the guys.”
Rupp, Wolski and Staal should travel with the team on its road trip to St. Louis and Phoenix and there was no update on Michael Sauer’s condition.
It’s not TV. It’s NHL.
Lights. Cameras. The action is about to air.
The first episode of HBO’s four-part 24/7 Rangers Flyers series will air tonight at 9 p.m. And count the Rangers as among those interested in seeing the show.
“I don’t know,” Jeff Woywitka said with a large grin after Metro jokingly asked if he was going to be the star of the initial installment. “I am looking forward to seeing it though. They’ve done some good things here, following us. So I’m sure they’ll have some good scenes.”
HBO’s cameras have access to the team before, during and after games. During last season’s show, clips aired of Penguins coach Dan Bylsma reiterating game plans during pre-game meetings and then-Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau challenging his team to respond between periods of games.
“It’s a little different being mic’d up for games and having cameras in your [dressing] room for meetings and stuff like that. It was a little different at first, but we’re adjusting to it. We know they’re going to be around. If you don’t feel comfortable doing something, coach said you don’t have to do it,” Woywitka said. “Things have been good; they’ve been really good to us. I’m looking forward to it.”
Downie gets fined
The NHL announced that Tampa Bay right wing Steve Downie was fined $2,500 for “leaving the bench on a legal line change to become involved in an altercation” in the Rangers’ 3-2 shootout loss last Thursday night.
Downie left the bench and attacked Rangers center Artem Anisimov following Anisimov’s faux-gunshot goal celebration in the second period. Downie was penalized for roughing and misconduct. After the game, Tortorella said that referees Chris Rooney and David Banfield “didn’t see it” and “They told me they didn’t see him come off the bench.”
When asked at the morning skate at the Garden if Downie had acted dishonorably, Brandon Prust said that he hadn’t “seen the replay. I don’t think he was in the play at all, but if you’re short guys on the ice, obviously, maybe it’s something you [feel] you need to do. It’s not my decision. I don’t know how late it was.”
Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/1049735--rangers-notebook-staal-skates-hbo-show-ready-to-air
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 3:42 PM
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