TRADE DEADLINE MOVES

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has acquired forwards Fredrik Sjostrom and Josh Gratton and goaltender David LeNeveu, and a conditional draft pick from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for goaltender Al Montoya and forward Marcel Hossa.

Sjostrom, 24, has appeared in 51 games with the Phoenix Coyotes this season, registering 10 goals and nine assists for 19 points, along with 14 penalty minutes. His 10 goals mark a career-high, and are currently tied for fifth on the Coyotes. He also ranks second on the team with two shorthanded goals



The native of Fernie, British Columbia, LeNeveu was originally Phoenix’s second round selection, 46th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.


New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather also announced today that the club has acquired defenseman Christian Backman from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.


Backman, 27, has appeared in 45 games with the St. Louis Blues this season, registering one goal and nine assists for 10 points, along with 30 penalty minutes. He ranks fourth on the Blues among defensemen in assists (nine) and points (10). In addition, Backman recorded a season-high, two points (one goal and one assist) on January 13 vs. Vancouver, and registered four points (one goal and three assists) in a five games from January 2 to January 13. He skated in his 200th career NHL game on November 19 vs. Nashville.

PERFECTION

If the script that is unfolding at Madison Square Garden this season seems familiar, that's simply because it is.

As was the case one year ago, when the Blueshirts surged over their final 20 games to finish sixth in the Eastern Conference and set the stage for a memorable playoff run, they are doing it again with the added confidence that came from last year's experience.

Indeed, the current Rangers are now five points ahead of their pace from the 2006-07 season as they drive toward what would be their third straight playoff berth in April.

The latest victim in the Rangers' late-season rejuvenation was the Florida Panthers on Sunday night at MSG. The Blueshirts dominated from start to finish in beating the Panthers 5-0 for their second straight victory and their seventh straight game with at least one standings point.

CRUISING INTO 6TH PLACE

Playing one of the most important games of their 2007-08 season, the Rangers skated away with a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night at HSBC Arena, securing their position in the Eastern Conference playoff picture with only 19 games remaining in their season. The Blueshirts and Buffalo had both entered Saturday's game in a three-way tie with the Boston Bruins with 68 points in the conference standings, so a win was guaranteed to lift the Rangers over Buffalo in the standings. The Rangers were briefly in sixth place in the East until Boston prevailed in Tampa later on Saturday night. Although the Blueshirts and Bruins both have 70 points, the Rangers now hold seventh, rather than sixth, because the Bruins have played fewer games. The Rangers, who have now collected at least one standings point in six consecutive games, can move past Boston into sole possession of sixth place with another point against Florida on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden. The Blueshirts will be facing the Panthers at home for the first time since dominating Florida in their season-opener. In Saturday's back-and-forth tilt played with playoff intensity, Sean Avery notched the game-winner at 14:55 of the third period off a feed from Brendan Shanahan. On his winning goal, Avery drove to the net on the forecheck, forcing Ales Kotalik into a blind clearing attempt that was intercepted by Shanahan, who mishit his shot attempt. Luckily for the Rangers, the puck slipped right to the sitck of Avery, who buried the puck in the back of the net for the win. The Rangers then played picture perfect defense down the stretch in preserving the lead.

HANGING UP THE PHONE

AFTER A PROMISING WEEKEND THE RANGERS TRAVELED TO MONTREAL AND TOOK A 5-0 LEAD HALF WAY THROUGH THE 2ND PERIOD BUT FROM THERE IT WAS ALL DOWNHILL. AS THEY FELL TO THE CANDIENS 6-5 LOSING IN A SHOOTOUT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE RANGERS HAVE LOST A GAME IN WHICH THEY LED BY 5 GOALS.
LETS HOPE THAT THEIR LUCK IS BETTER ON CASINO NIGHT WHICH IS THIS THURSDAY NIGHT AT THE GARDEN.

ALL I CAN SAY IS "WOW".

ANSWERING THE CALL

IT SEEMS AFTER STRUGGLING IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY THE RANGERS HAVE WOKEN UP AND ARE ANSWERING THE CALL.

ON SATURDAY THEY DESTROYED THE SABRES 5-1 AND ON SUNDAY THEY GOT THEIR FIRST WIN AGAINST A WESTERN CONFERENCE TEAM DEFEATING THE SHARKS 3-1 WITH A GREAT PERFORMANCE BY WINGER RYAN CALLAHAN. CALLAHAN WHOM COACH TOM RENNEY SENT DOWN EARLY IN THE SEASON, STATING THAT HE WASNT SHOWING ENOUGH TO STAY ON THE TEAM, IS SHOWING HIS COACH AND RANGER FANS THAT HE IS HERE TO STAY..

HIS PLAY ALONG WITH THE BREATH OF FRESH AIR OF BRANDON DUBINSKY GREAT PLAY AND SEAN AVERY'S SPEED IS CREATING MORE SCORING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS TEAM.

THE TEAM NOW STANDS IN 6TH PLACE. BUT THEY HAVE PLAYED 2 MORE GAMES THAN THE TEAMS SURROUNDING THEM.

IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING LAST 21 GAMES.

WHERE IS THIS TEAM GOING?

THE BIG QUESTION ALL RANGER FANS HAVE NOW IS WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE..

AS OF RIGHT NOW THE RANGERS ARE 28-24-7 AND IN 7TH PLACE IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE..

AFTER 2 BIG SIGNINGS THIS OFFSEASON, CHRIS DRURY AND SCOTT GOMEZ...THIS HAS TO BE A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT FOR THEM...

RIGHT NOW IS WHEN THEY HAVE TO MAKE THEIR FINAL PUSH FOR THE PLAYOFFS AND GEAR UP

OR IT WILL BE ANOTHER LONG YEAR FOR THE FANS OF NY

HERE WE GO AGAIN

Returning to Madison Square Garden following three consecutive victories on the road, the Rangers were unable to extend their winning streak as they fell 4-2 to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday evening. Despite the loss, the Rangers still hold seventh place in the Eastern Conference by one point over the Boston Bruins, who also lost at home to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.

RANGER RECOVERY

Trailing 3-0 in the second period of Sunday afternoon's nationally televised game in Montreal, the red-hot Rangers refused to lose, erupting for five unanswered goals over final 31:21 for a 5-3 win that lifted them up another notch in the standings.

Continuing their steady climb up the Eastern Conference standings, the Rangers surged into seventh place by erasing a three-goal deficit to defeat the Montreal Canadiens 5-3 Sunday afternoon at the Bell Centre in a game played at a fevered, playoff pitch.

Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist rebounded to finish with 25 saves, including 10 in the third period, after giving up three goals on power plays.

With the Super Sunday victory, the Rangers, who now have 60 points, moved one point ahead of the Boston Bruins in the east. Looking forward, the Rangers are now only one point behind the Devils, two behind the Penguins, and three behind the Flyers -- their three nearest competitors in both the Eastern Conference and the Atlantic Division.

They'll be looking for four in a row tomorrow night at home against the LA Kings.