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Today's noon number applies to two different players who impressed in the New York Rangers' two weekend games in which they beat the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals. During those two wins Ryan Callahan scored four goals (three against Philadelphia) and Brad Richards recorded four assists (three against Philadelphia).

Richards had a hand in two of Callahan's goals against the Flyers and he also assisted on Callahan's first goal against the Capitals.

Both plays have figured to play major roles in the Rangers' offense this season, and both have. Even though Richards isn't putting up the kind of numbers he wants, he still has 39 points (17 goals) in 54 games. Callahan, on the other hand, is having the year he was looking for. A whopping 22 goals and 41 points puts him second on the team in both categories.

Richards is the only other Rangers near 20 goals with 17, the fourth highest goal scorer for New York is Derek Stepan with 11.

Either way, both Callahan and Richards have been a big part of the Rangers' success the past two games, and figure to continue that trend against Boston on Tuesday.

Last week we tossed around the idea of the New York Rangers potentially making a move for Rick Nash. But it's actually Nash's teammate, Jeff Carter, who seems destined to be moved from Columbus.

Carter signed an 11-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, expecting to finish his career with the team that drafted him in the first round in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. But the Flyers had other plans, and shipped both Carter and Mike Richards off in separate trades to make room for Ilya Bryzgalov.

Richards found his was to Los Angeles, playing for the Kings. Carter, on the other hand, was traded to Columbus, a move he was so unhappy about that it took him a few days to even speak about the trade. There are musings that Carter might want out of Columbus, and if he does should Glen Sather make a play for him?

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The New York Rangers got a huge 5-2 victory Saturday afternoon, cruising past the Philadelphia Flyers. Today, the Rangers are going to try and sweep their back-to-back series this weekend with a win over the Washington Capitals.

Joe's Player To Watch:

Brad Richards

#19 / Center / New York Rangers

Height: 6-0

Weight: 196

Born: May 02, 1980

Richards had a big game against the Flyers, I don't see any reason why he can't continue it tonight. Have fun in the game thread everyone, let's go Rangers!

Here are your keys to the game for the New York Rangers' matchup with the Washington Capitals.

Ride The Momentum: The Rangers got a huge win Saturday afternoon, crushing the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-2. The Rangers can use the momentum they've gained from the win over the Flyers this afternoon against the Capitals. The Rangers are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, and are entering a tough stretch of play against some of the better teams in the NHL. They will have an opportunity to beat another one of those teams tonight.

Don't Underestimate The Capitals: Washington is a struggling hockey team right now, there's not debating that. The Capitals are 4-3-3 in their last 10 games, and are sitting in 9th place in the Eastern Conference. The catch? They're two points out of third place, since 63 points would be good for tops in their division. That makes the Capitals a dangerous team, and the Rangers can't take them lightly.

The New York Rangers will look to continue their dominance against the Philadelphia Flyers today when they take on the Flyers on the road.

Joe's Player To Watch:

Brad Richards

#19 / Center / New York Rangers

Height: 6-0

Weight: 196

Born: May 02, 1980

Big game against the Lightning for Richards on Thursday, I'm feeling a big game for him tonight as well.

Have fun in the game thread guys!

This is an abbreviated keys to the game, mainly due to the early start.

Don't Take The Foot Off The Gas: The New York Rangers have shown all year that they can truly dominate games, the only issue is that those spurts generally don't last the entire game. The Rangers' win over the Lightning and loss to the Devils were perfect examples of the Rangers dominating for a period, but not playing at the level they wanted to before then. The Flyers want a win against the Rangers, bad, so New York needs to come out flying and keep it going for 60 minutes.

All Hail The King: Henrik Lundqvist tends to be a busy man when the Rangers take on the flyers. Today doesn't figure to be any different. Lundqvist gets up for these types of games, which is good because the Rangers will need him against a tough Flyers squad. This falls on the defense as well. The Rangers' defensive corps need to keep the crease clear and make sure that Lundqvist can see everything that comes his way.

Brad Richards scored another big goal for the New York Rangers Thursday night, potting the game-winner in overtime. It's taken Richards some time to adjust to the new team and the new system, and it's evident that he's not fully there yet. But with another game winning goal (his seventh so far this season) under his belt, will he start to find his game?

Tonight's matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers poses a tough test for the Rangers, who will look to push their rivals even further down in the standings as New York looks to secure the division. Richards should be a big part of that, especially when he's on top of his game.

I don't think Richards has played poorly the past few games, I just don't think the bounces have gone his way. That changed against the Tampa Bay Lightning. So I ask all of you: Will the overtime goal get Brad Richards going?

The floor is yours.

It's no secret that Brad Richards isn't having the best season of his career. He's still getting used to the system, he hasn't really had a consistent line mate (something that brought him success in Dallas) and, quite frankly, the puck hasn't really been bouncing his was so far this season.

That was evident last night when a Richard's shot just glanced over Mathieu Garon's shoulder and skimmed by the post, a goal which would have tied the game at three. But Brian Boyle did tie the game, and that opened the door for Richards to score the game-winner in overtime, a goal that might finally get the puck to start bouncing his way this season.

Either way, the goal was a big one. And, despite his numbers not being where he wants them to be, Brad Richards is no stranger to big goals this year. The goal he scored Thursday night marked his seventh game-winning goal of the season. That's good for 2nd best in the NHL, and the 14 points he's helped the Rangers earn on those game winners have helped the Rangers remain among the elite in the NHL.

Maybe this is exactly what Richards needed to get back on track. Either way, no matter how his season finishes, he's still made a positive impact for this hockey team.

This time of year is always interesting for the New York Rangers and their fans.

Because the Rangers are a big-market team (with a big-market media presence) nearly every big name in hockey will be linked to Broadway from now until the trading deadline. It's the nature of the beast. From here, it's the reader's job to distinguish exactly what rumors are plausible, which are completely unrealistic and which rumors are unlikely but not insane.

You can file the "Rick Nash to New York" rumors under the "unlikely but not insane" category. Before I even get into this I just want to reiterate that this is a rumor, nothing more. This post is also not meant to start a rumor. I have no inside information. I'm just commenting on something that's been thrown around (Columbus considering trading Nash) and connecting it with one of the Rangers' needs (offense/power play help).

With that said, join me after the jump for more.

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In a 1-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils Tuesday night the New York Rangers proved something. As good of a team as they are right now, the lack of a potent power play could be this group's undoing in the playoffs.

Tuesday night the Rangers had a brilliant chance to tie the game when they were awarded a power play with under 10 minutes left in the game. The power play failed to convert, marking the 17th straight time the Rangers have failed to score with the man advantage. You can complain about the call that disallowed a Rangers' goal all you want, but the simple fact is that the Rangers should have never let the game come to that point in the first place.

There will be big names linked to the Rangers as we get closer and closer to the NHL trade deadline, and despite fans refusing to want even discuss touching this team's chemisty, I think it's a subject that has to be broached. This team needs power play help, and they need it soon. Some extra offense wouldn't hurt either.

So I ask all of you: Would you make a big move at the deadline this year if it's reasonable -- I'm not talking about never-gonna-happen steals (any deal involving Wade Redden would fall into this category) just deals that make sense for both sides -- if it's on the table? Or would you keep the chemistry and hope that the power play either starts to score as the season continues or hope that it doesn't come back to bite the team in the playoffs?

The floor is yours.

Did you wake up this morning with a huge smile on your face? Even for those of you who follow the New York Rangers but aren't New York Giants fans, you can at least appreciate the Rangers crushing the Philadelphia Flyers Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.

Much like the Giants, the Rangers are proving to the world that they're a force to be reckoned with. The Rangers could have folded when the Flyers scored a power play goal to start the third period, tying the game at two. But Marian Gaborik slid a smooth pass to Michael Del Zotto who game the Rangers a 3-2 lead and a fresh burst of confidence.

In the end, that's what this season has been so far for the Rangers, a year full of big wins and confidence.

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Yesterday Glen Sather shockingly found a suitor for Erik Christensen, sending him to the Minnesota Wild. The move, while minor at first sight, might, in fact, lead to a bigger move at the deadline.

While the money aspect isn't major either -- the Rangers only saved $925K with the move -- it did remove a logjam at the forward position. There have also been rumblings that Sather might be looking to move Wojtek Wolski -- who hasn't made an impact for the Rangers at all this season.

If the Rangers are going to pull off another big move, they're going to need to clear more space. In that aspect, trading Wolski makes sense, but if John Tortorella is pleased with what he has we might not see anything happen this season.

So I ask all of you, do you think the Chrisensen trade is a prelude to bigger things for the Rangers? Go ahead, the floor is yours.

Joe's Player To Watch:

Brad Richards

#19 / Center / New York Rangers

Height: 6-0

Weight: 196

Born: May 02, 1980

Just a feeling that Richards has a big night for the Rangers in Buffalo tonight. He's been quiet of late but I like what I've seen from him on the ice.

Gave fun in the game thread guys!

A bad bounce cost the New York Rangers two points yesterday, and suddenly a game that seemed wrapped up for two points was going down in the loss column. But that's hockey. So is moving on, which is exactly what the Rangers are going to want to do when they take on the Buffalo Sabres tonight.

We've talked all season about how the Rangers have been able to move on from tough losses and not let them grow during the course of the year. Tonight will be another test, especially with the way the Rangers lost Tuesday night.

Buffalo has won two in a row, but in their last 10 games the Sabres are just 3-6-1. That doesn't mean that tonight's contest will be an easy one, but the Rangers need the two points all the same.

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With the All-Star Break over --and Marian Gaborik even taking home some hardware -- the New York Rangers will now turn their attention to their next foe, the New Jersey Devils.

Maintenance days are a favorite of John Tortorella, and he had a whole week of them for most every player on his team. That means you can expect a healthy squad to take on the Devils tonight. The Rangers are still clinging to their Atlantic Division lead, although a few teams are close behind -- New Jersey being one of them.

That makes tonight's tilt even more important, regardless of the rivalry. Hopefully Gaborik, who notched three goals in the All-Star Game, can continue his hot streak and bring his game back into the regular season. Obviously the difference between the no-defense, no-hitting All-Star Game and a fierce regular season rivalry is significant; but Gaborik should still be a confidence hockey player going into the game.

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Tomorrow night two of the New York Rangers' superstars will face off against one another. Sniper Marian Gaborik and goalie Henrik Lundqvist will be on different teams for the first time since Gaborik was a member of the Minnesota Wild.

The two have already started trash talking on twitter, which makes this whole sequence even more interesting. The All-Star game is always about finding stories within the game, since the outcome doesn't matter at all. For Rangers fans, here is one of your stories.

So in the period that Lundqvist will play, who do you think will have the edge? Do you see Gaborik scoring a goal or two on Lundqvist, or do you see Lundqvist shutting the door on Gaborik? We'll have a period to see who gets the edge but I'll throw the question to you guys, who bests who during the All-Star game?

Go ahead guys, the floor is yours.

The New York Rangers headed into their All-Star Break on as high of a note as they could have. After beating the Boston Bruins in overtime on Saturday they routed the Winnipeg Jets the other night for their second win in a row.

It seems like a funny thing to talk about when a team is in first place in their respective conference, but confidence still plays a big role in any team's success, no matter where they are in the standings. The Rangers are exhibiting that right now, as they continue to win games despite a stagnant power play.

But as of now it shouldn't be about what the Rangers haven't been able to do so far this season, it's what they have done.

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The New York Rangers got good news on Monday when the team learned that Ryan McDonagh will probably play in tonight's matchup with the Winnipeg Jets.

The Rangers have had their fair share of injuries this season, especially to their defensive corps, and having McDonagh back will be a big boost for the team.

New York does, however, have bigger things to worry about. After a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory over the Boston Bruins on Saturday, the Rangers now have some much needed confidence and momentum. They also have a big break in the schedule, having an entire week off before taking on the New Jersey Devils January 31st.

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The New York Rangers were in a bit of a slid, and after a 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins the Rangers had lost three of their last five games. But big matchups can help a team break a losing streak and start a new winning streak.

With the magnitude of the Rangers' victory over the Bruins, that game might prove to do just that.

Yes, the power play is still a massive issue, but the Rangers are winning games without it -- although that's not a strategy they would like to test out come the playoffs. Saturday afternoon against the Bruins, the Rangers all-around game shone once again. They got great goaltending rom Henrik Lundqvist, the defense played well in front of the All-Star goalie, and the offense converted when they had to.

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Joe's Player To Watch:

Brad Richards

#19 / Center / New York Rangers

Height: 6-0

Weight: 196

Born: May 02, 1980

Note: Hey guys, with the new SOPA bill we're cleaning things up a little bit inside the game threads. As you've surely noticed, we're cracking down on pictures and the like in game threads. Please understand that by cleaning up our act a little bit we're not only opening our arms to a younger audience but also making sure we don't have any pirated pictures posted. Thank you for your understanding. Any questions can always be directed to me at Joe@blueshirtbanter.com.

The New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins will finally meet tonight. The two powerhouses of the Eastern Conference haven't met all season to this point, but that ends this afternoon.

The Rangers are looking to break out of a three losses in five games slump, and if New York means to get it against the Bruins they're going to have to earn it. Here's how they can do that.

Battle Of The Goalies: Henrik Lundqvist and Tim Thomas will surely have a competitive edge tonight as the two face off for the first time this season. We've talked about how Lundqvist generally steps up in big games, and today's game will be another testament to that ideology. The Rangers will need Lundqvist to stand tall, especially since the Bruins' offense is as formidable as any in the league.

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It's no secret that Artem Anisimov has fallen out of favor after a blistering hot start to the season. With no points in his last 12 games he has been relegated to the fourth line by John Tortorella.

Tuesday night in a 3-0 victory against the Nashville Predators Anisimov played just 6:31. That's his lowest total of the season by a mile. In fact, there is only one other game in which Anisimov played in the single digits, and it was a nine-minute effort against the San Jose Sharks on Halloween night.

Anisimov has played well in spurts during this 12-game scoreless streak but he simply hasn't found the back of the net or even the scoresheet. Tortorella has been giving Anisimov chances -- he's played upwards of 12 minutes a night the past few games -- but had a hart time getting him minutes Tuesday night.

Hopefully that changes tonight, along with Anisimov's play.

The New York Rangers continue to win big games. It's been a trademark this season, and one that has helped the Rangers earn one of the best records in the NHL.

This time it was the Nashville Predators, who were one of the hottest teams in the league walking into Madison Square Garden Tuesday night. But the Rangers handled them for most of the game and earned a 3-0 victory for the team's 29th victory of the season.

There are positives, as always, to take from the win. There are also some negatives.

The positives are the defense and goaltending, which seems to be another theme this year despite the injuries. Henrik Lundqvist earned his 4th shutout of the year with a 27-save performance and Dan Girardi, Michael Del Zotto and Ryan McDonagh all played more than 23 minutes in the win.

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The New York Rangers have played 44 games so far this season, amassing a 29-11-4 record over that span. Yes, we are two games over the actual halfway point in this year's campaign, but with the weekend and the holiday I figured we could have this discussion today.

Team MVP: There are a lot of choices here. Dan Girardi, Henrik Lundqvist and Marian Gaborik seem to top the list of potential choices, but even if you narrow it down to those three who would you choose? Gabroik has been the bulk of the Rangers' offense, Girardi has been the base of the Rangers' defense and Lundqvist has been Lundqvist. Good luck separating those three in terms of importance.

Norris Trophy: Sure, Girardi looks like a lock for this position as well, but how can you not at least entertain the thought of guys like Michael Del Zotto and Ryan McDonagh. McDonagh, specifically, has stepped up in to the No. 2 role when there was no other option, and Girardi has filled Marc Staal's shoes perfectly. Del Zotto brings more of an offensive look to the defense, and has also shored up his game in his own zone.

Vezina Trophy: OK, so this one is a slam dunk. Lundqvist got his 20th win of the season Tuesday night in a win over the Nashville Predators, and has been a rock all year. But you do have to give major props to Martin Biron, who has also been better than solid for the Rangers between the pipes and has helped spell Lundqvist when the goalie needed a break.

So what do you guys think. Who deserves what? Maybe I left someone off the list? Go ahead guys, the floor is yours.

These moments have been far and few between for the New York Rangers, but Sunday night's loss to the Montreal Canadiens is the second loss in three games for the Rangers -- who still have an NHL-high

New York seemingly got a dominant 3-0 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs to rebound from a 3-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators; but Sunday night's effort was poor at best. The defense couldn't find its game, and the offense only found the net once in the two losses.

There have been some alarming signs, mainly the power play. The Rangers' power play has been horrible recently, although the winning streaks have managed to overshadow the team's inability to convert with the man advantage. The Rangers didn't covert against Montreal Sunday night, although they only had one opportunity.

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The New York Rangers have been doing special things all season, but one of the most productive things they've done is not allow losses to build up.

The Rangers lost a tough game against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, a loss which could have easily shaken the team's confidence and send them into a losing streak. But the Rangers didn't let it get to them and they rebounded with a huge 3-0 victory which allowed New York to become the first team in the NHL with 60 points.

Tonight, the Rangers will try and continue to build off their win over the Toronto Maple Leafs when they take on the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal, it should be noted, lost a tough game Saturday night against the Senators as well.

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The New York Rangers will look to rebound from their shoutout loss to the Ottawa Senators in their most recent game when they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight at the Air Canada Centre.

Joe's Player To Watch

Derek Stepan

#21 / Center / New York Rangers

Height: 6-0

Weight: 182

Born: Jun 18, 1990

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I just have a feeling Stepan is going to have a great game. Enjoy the game guys and have fun in the game thread.

The New York Rangers were the final team in the NHL to lose their 10th game this season, with the decisive loss coming from a 3-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators Thursday night.

The Rangers didn't come to play against a surging Senators team and suffered the price with a tough-to-swallow loss at Madison Square Garden.

The good news? These games have been far and few between. The Rangers are still two points ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers in the Atlantic Division, and also have a game in hand. John Tortorella is apt to be upset with the effort from his team, and will probably make some adjustments in practice.

Still, the way the Rangers have played can't be overlooked because of one bad loss. That's one of the best things about this team, they always seem to learn from their losses and rebound well. They'll have an opportunity to do that when they travel to Toronto.

The New York Rangers have dealt with injury issues all season. And with both Marc Staal and Michael Sauer out for extended periods of time this season it was easy to forget that Wojtek Wolski was also on the shelf. Woski -- was was penciled in on the first line during preseason -- has played just six games this year, registering two assists.

The Rangers' offense, lead by a rejuvinated Marian Gaborik, points from the blue line, Ryan Callahan and the addition of Brad Richards, hasn't suffered much without him.

Tonight, however, they might get a chance to see what life is like with him in the lineup again. According to Andrew Gross, John Tortorella will use Wolski in place of Brandon Dubinsky (sore) if he can't play against the Ottawa Senators.

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