rangers newsday writer notes:
More from Philly....
The first indication was that Steve Valiquette was guarding the goal to the right at the morning skate here, which is generally the starter's territory. The confirmation came when he skated off into the dressing room before Henrik Lundqvist.
Must admit I was a little surprised...
Valiquette, whose last start was 15 games ago on Feb. 10 in Washington, made 17 saves and stopped two shootout attempts against the Flyers on March 2, when he relieved Lundqvist. His shutout streak of 157:45 against the Flyers ended in the third period that day.
"It would have been easy to come back to Henrik," said Renney. "But I like what Steve's got going, certainly he's practiced extremely well, he's on top of his game. He's had success here and it's a good opportunity to assimilate himself back into our team needs.... I can't suggest that he's got the Philadelphia Flyers' number. He plays well against
them, so do we. But Steve Valiquette can start against any number of teams in this league and do real well."
Asked to explain Valiquette's---or any goaltender's success against a specific club---Lundqvist said later, "It's hard...he's played in almost three games (against Philadelphia) now. Sometimes it just works for you. You go in and don't think, just go out and play. Hopefully, he's in their heads, but it can change fast... You can have a good streak and
you think you're playing your best hockey and then bam, five goals, so you never know how the game's gonna go. Yeah, he's been playing really well against the Flyers and I've been playing a lot lately, I can sit back tonight and relax a little bit."
Lundqvist, by the way, remains congested. "Yeah, I didn't get rid of it. It's been two weeks, at least there's no fever anymore. Hopefully, I can keep practicing over the next few days."
****
C Blair Betts is sidelined, apparently with an infection of a bunion between the toes on his right foot. "We'll have a better idea of what the concerns are tomorrow morning," Renney said without being specific, and will rotate players into Betts' valuable slot on penalty kills. "He's a real conscientious player...We'll look at a couple guys, it's the type of game where a couple guys are gonna have to step up and help us."
Betts, who played just under nine minutes in New Jersey, about three minutes fewer than his game average, had skated in all 74 games this season.
Asked what he told Hollweg, who has been a healthy scratch for eight games in favor of Fredrik Sjostrom, Renney said: "Keep his shifts short and be an efficient player and recognize that he can't get the games back in the first five minutes he plays. He's a smart kid and we like him in our lineup."
Hollweg, 24, who has played left wing in 63 games this season and has one goal and two assists, said conditioning drills have kept him in shape and was ready for the pivot. "I feel good, I've played center all my life," he said, noting that one difference in the position is that, "sometimes, but not necessarily, I'll be the first man in. I just have to make sure I come back up high."
****
The Rangers are 7-0 in this building the last two seasons... D Paul Mara skated with the cage mask, and inched closer to playing. "He'll have another good one tomorrow morning," said Renney, acknowledging that it was possible that Mara could play Tuesday at the Garden against the Flyers..
More from Philly....
The first indication was that Steve Valiquette was guarding the goal to the right at the morning skate here, which is generally the starter's territory. The confirmation came when he skated off into the dressing room before Henrik Lundqvist.
Must admit I was a little surprised...
Valiquette, whose last start was 15 games ago on Feb. 10 in Washington, made 17 saves and stopped two shootout attempts against the Flyers on March 2, when he relieved Lundqvist. His shutout streak of 157:45 against the Flyers ended in the third period that day.
"It would have been easy to come back to Henrik," said Renney. "But I like what Steve's got going, certainly he's practiced extremely well, he's on top of his game. He's had success here and it's a good opportunity to assimilate himself back into our team needs.... I can't suggest that he's got the Philadelphia Flyers' number. He plays well against
them, so do we. But Steve Valiquette can start against any number of teams in this league and do real well."
Asked to explain Valiquette's---or any goaltender's success against a specific club---Lundqvist said later, "It's hard...he's played in almost three games (against Philadelphia) now. Sometimes it just works for you. You go in and don't think, just go out and play. Hopefully, he's in their heads, but it can change fast... You can have a good streak and
you think you're playing your best hockey and then bam, five goals, so you never know how the game's gonna go. Yeah, he's been playing really well against the Flyers and I've been playing a lot lately, I can sit back tonight and relax a little bit."
Lundqvist, by the way, remains congested. "Yeah, I didn't get rid of it. It's been two weeks, at least there's no fever anymore. Hopefully, I can keep practicing over the next few days."
****
C Blair Betts is sidelined, apparently with an infection of a bunion between the toes on his right foot. "We'll have a better idea of what the concerns are tomorrow morning," Renney said without being specific, and will rotate players into Betts' valuable slot on penalty kills. "He's a real conscientious player...We'll look at a couple guys, it's the type of game where a couple guys are gonna have to step up and help us."
Betts, who played just under nine minutes in New Jersey, about three minutes fewer than his game average, had skated in all 74 games this season.
Asked what he told Hollweg, who has been a healthy scratch for eight games in favor of Fredrik Sjostrom, Renney said: "Keep his shifts short and be an efficient player and recognize that he can't get the games back in the first five minutes he plays. He's a smart kid and we like him in our lineup."
Hollweg, 24, who has played left wing in 63 games this season and has one goal and two assists, said conditioning drills have kept him in shape and was ready for the pivot. "I feel good, I've played center all my life," he said, noting that one difference in the position is that, "sometimes, but not necessarily, I'll be the first man in. I just have to make sure I come back up high."
****
The Rangers are 7-0 in this building the last two seasons... D Paul Mara skated with the cage mask, and inched closer to playing. "He'll have another good one tomorrow morning," said Renney, acknowledging that it was possible that Mara could play Tuesday at the Garden against the Flyers..
