Sam Weinman at The Rangers Report says this regarding the Rangers line-up...
- Korpikoski will skate at fourth line for Blair Betts, who will need to have orbital surgery on his left eye—the same procedure that Paul Mara had in February— and is out for at least the series and most likely the season. It will be the NHL debut for Korpikoski, the 19th overall pick in the 2004 draft who spent most of the season at wing before switching to center in the final few months.
- Chris Drury (torso) skated briefly this morning and appeared to be holding back on some of his shots. But Tom Renney expects the center to skate in warm-ups and is optimistic Drury can play. “It’s looking good,” Renney said. Either way, Renney will skate one extra player in warm-ups.
- Expect Jason Strudwick to go in for Christian Backman. Renney said that’s where he was leaning, and seeing how Backman stayed on the ice for more skating after the regulars were gone, it appears to be a lock.
- No word on who goes in for Sean Avery. Petr Prucha, Ryan Hollweg, and Colton Orr all left the ice with the rest of the regulars, so all are possibilities.
...with all the injuries, why not Korpikoski? During the regular season for Hartford, Korpikoski had 23 goals, 27 assists and was a +20. During the playoffs he had 1 goal, 1 assist and was a -5 in 5 games.
...good to see Strudwick in there. Backman has just been awful this series.
...if Renney goes with Orr or Hollweg over Prucha I will lose my mind. Not only should he be in the line-up, he has to be on one of the power play units as well as on Gomez' wing on the second line.
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