Jan Levine: Game 7: NYR-NJD, Focus on the Blue Line Due to Girardi's Injury Pairings and who will play in flux

If Girardi does not go expect Mac and Staal to each come close to 30 minutes and Moore and Klein 20+

Good blog Jan.

McDonagh did not look out of place on the right side in the Olympics, but like you said that 3rd pairing would be awful. I would hope AV splits the bad with the good. Its only one game, and seeing as there is a pretty good break till the next game, I think Girardi would be ready by then.

I just hope the rangers are getting their injuries out of the way early this year

I think the best thing we can compare Girardi's unbelievable durablity to is like having a pitcher in baseball who you can guarantee 200+ innings every single year.

People can be critical of him all they want, but it's a disastrous hole that this team can withstand for only one game tops when he is out of the lineup.

I think he'll somehow manage to get in there tonight

I think the best thing we can compare Girardi's unbelievable durablity to is like having a pitcher in baseball who you can guarantee 200+ innings every single year.

People can be critical of him all they want, but it's a disastrous hole that this team can withstand for only one game tops when he is out of the lineup.

I think he'll somehow manage to get in there tonight
- jimbro83

I'll take it one more, 200+ innings and 120 pitches a night, he's a warrior

I think the best thing we can compare Girardi's unbelievable durablity to is like having a pitcher in baseball who you can guarantee 200+ innings every single year.

People can be critical of him all they want, but it's a disastrous hole that this team can withstand for only one game tops when he is out of the lineup.

I think he'll somehow manage to get in there tonight
- jimbro83

I would rather let him rest this one game. Next game isnt till Saturday right? That will give him 5 full days to heal stitches, as long as it wasnt crazy deep it should be enough time to heal pretty good. If he plays tonight and all the sweat and other crap could be a chance of infection.

I'll take it one more, 200+ innings and 120 pitches a night, he's a warrior
- KreiderBomb

Plus a nightly collision with the base runner as he goes to cover first base on a play at first.

I would rather let him rest this one game. Next game isnt till Saturday right? That will give him 5 full days to heal stitches, as long as it wasnt crazy deep it should be enough time to heal pretty good. If he plays tonight and all the sweat and other crap could be a chance of infection.
- mdw7413

Take it from someone who has had their ankle sliced pretty deep by a skate...there's a chance he'll need more than 5 days. Of course I did not get stitched by professional sports organization trainers/doctors..but I played 2 weeks after getting stitched and tore it right open again.

That said, it's not particularly painful and I can't possibly imagine it's going to keep a guy like Girardi down for very long.

I think the best thing we can compare Girardi's unbelievable durablity to is like having a pitcher in baseball who you can guarantee 200+ innings every single year.

People can be critical of him all they want, but it's a disastrous hole that this team can withstand for only one game tops when he is out of the lineup.

I think he'll somehow manage to get in there tonight
- jimbro83

I think they sit Girardi tonight to be honest. Let the cut fully heal and get him ready for Montreal Saturday.

Not taking Jersey lightly but don't want this to be a lingering issue if he comes back too soon and doesn't fully fix the damage to his foot.

I would rather let him rest this one game. Next game isnt till Saturday right? That will give him 5 full days to heal stitches, as long as it wasnt crazy deep it should be enough time to heal pretty good. If he plays tonight and all the sweat and other crap could be a chance of infection.
- mdw7413

I am with you, if it's really that bad of a cut, don't risk any further damage to him for the long term. Let him sit out this week if needed. Yes, I am well aware this means Kostka plays and that is damn unfortunate, but Girardi missing two games is much more palatable than him missing more time because he came back too quickly.

Take it from someone who has had their ankle sliced pretty deep by a skate...there's a chance he'll need more than 5 days. Of course I did not get stitched by professional sports organization trainers/doctors..but I played 2 weeks after getting stitched and tore it right open again.

That said, it's not particularly painful and I can't possibly imagine it's going to keep a guy like Girardi down for very long.
- eichiefs9

I think he got cut from a slapshot right behind the shin pad. Could be wrong though. Guess it all depends how deep it was.

I am with you, if it's really that bad of a cut, don't risk any further damage to him for the long term. Let him sit out this week if needed. Yes, I am well aware this means Kostka plays and that is damn unfortunate, but Girardi missing two games is much more palatable than him missing more time because he came back too quickly.
- MidnightMarauder

Exactly, they have a good break here, let it heal.

Exactly, they have a good break here, let it heal.
- mdw7413

Agreed, two games this week, if he is good to go he needs to play though. But if he is questionable he should rest up.

Dont know if anyone saw Jim's tweet but.. if McIllrath isn't our 8th defenseman at this point doesn't that speak volumes about where he is in his development? He cant beat out (frank)ing Kostka here?

Dont know if anyone saw Jim's tweet but.. if McIllrath isn't our 8th defenseman at this point doesn't that speak volumes about where he is in his development? He cant beat out (frank)ing Kostka here?
- mrhattrick27

I see it more as Kosta is here in case of emergency. Maybe he fills in for a game if needed. If Girardi is out more then a game then I think you would see someone else called up. But would that be McIlrath? Good question, I have no clue who they would call up first.

I see it more as Kosta is here in case of emergency. Maybe he fills in for a game if needed. If Girardi is out more then a game then I think you would see someone else called up. But would that be McIlrath? Good question, I have no clue who they would call up first.
- TPC

I think it would be Conor Allen

I think it would be Conor Allen
- airjan23

Yea he would be my guess to. Although AV loves his righty-lefty combos, so it could depend on who is out.

Let Girardi rest tonight. I say let him rest Saturday also, have Allen or Mcl play Saturday because even if kostka plays well tonight I don't trust him 2 games in a row.

New York Rangers ‏@NYRangers 3m3 minutes ago
#NYR Injury Update: Dan Girardi will take part in today's optional morning skate in Newark

I see it more as Kosta is here in case of emergency. Maybe he fills in for a game if needed. If Girardi is out more then a game then I think you would see someone else called up. But would that be McIlrath? Good question, I have no clue who they would call up first.
- TPC

I just have a hard time with the fact that our top 10 pick from 2010 is in a position to finally crack this line up and can't beat out some career AHLs for the job

Steve Zipay ‏@stevezipay 1m1 minute ago
AV on Duclair: If we send him to juniors we can't bring him back. So staying for now.

Andrew Gross ‏@AGrossRecord 3m3 minutes ago
No timetable yet for Derek Stepan to resume skating.

Andrew Gross ‏@AGrossRecord 3m3 minutes ago
No timetable yet for Derek Stepan to resume skating.
- jimbro83

I can see Stepan returning early November.

New York Rangers ‏@NYRangers 3m3 minutes ago
#NYR Injury Update: Dan Girardi will take part in today's optional morning skate in Newark
- jimbro83

That's a good sign. I doubt Vigneault, and the medics, would allow Girardi to partake in practice if he was too unhealthy to even put the boot on.