Optional skate this morning and the (relatively) big news - other than a TV reporter/cameraman tandem approaching Blair Betts' locker, confusing all three participants as to why they were there - is John Tortorella saying Michal Rozsival will skate tomorrow and practice with the team on Wednesday. In all likelihood, the Rangers will be off tomorrow and the injured defenseman (left knee, no longer presumed) will - obviously - skate on his own.
Rozsival said, when asked about the possibility of playing Thursday at Carolina, "that would be great, we just have to wait and see."
Rozsival, interviewed while riding the stationary bicycle, said he was able to "push a little harder" and the knee was fine riding the bike but the "feeling from riding a bike to on the ice is a different story."
"It's feeling much better, I'm getting closer to getting back on the ice," Rozsival said.
Rozsival, though, seemed a little surprised when told Tortorella had said he was skating tomorrow and practicing Wednesday, adding he was going to talk to the training staff. Not a big deal. Most likely, Tortorella had spoken to the training staff before Rozsival had the chance.
Rozsival did talk about how frustrating it is not to be playing, though when I asked him whether the 7-10 day prognosis he received last Monday was a big relief for him, considering how bad knee injuries can be, he acknowledged that was the case.
"When I left the game (against Ottawa), I felt something was wrong," Rozsival said. "After the MRI, they told me it was not that bad. I was really happy about it."
And just an explanation on the Betts' lead-in. A couple of us old-time print reporters were asking Betts about being nominated for the Masterton, to which the soft-spoken Betts seemed very sheepish to be talking about, though he said the nomination was definitely "flattering." Into this conversation, walks a TV crew looking for sound on tonight's game against the Devils. They got 20 seconds of a sheepish Betts talking about an award without using it's name, then us print reporters walked away, leaving TV guy to face Betts - who rarely has a TV crew approach his locker - alone. Check out the 5 o'clock news to see how that encounter went.
More later from MSG.
Andrew - from this blog it shows Renney was at the last Pack game. Howlings.net also said it but said people couldn't go up to renney who was with Pelino. Is he helping the organization with evaluating prospects and for the upcoming draft?
http://www.beyondtheblueshirts.com/
Former Rangers head coach Tom Renney was in attendance, fueling speculation that his time with the Rangers organization is not finished
Posted by: LI Joe | March 30, 2009 at 12:55 PM
LI Joe,
Thanks for the hesds-up. I'll follow and let you know.
Posted by: Andrew Gross | March 30, 2009 at 02:00 PM
from howlings 3/29 post
"Former Rangers head coach Tom Renney and Mike Pelino were in attendance scouting, but unavailable for comment."
Posted by: LI Joe | March 30, 2009 at 02:08 PM
I hope they come out to play tonight and win because their season is running on fumes.
Posted by: Keith | March 30, 2009 at 05:59 PM