Rangers Surge Behind Balanced Scoring and Stalwart Defensemen

The Rangers enter Saturday night’s game in Montreal with a seven-game winning streak. Even after skating-intensive workouts, there were smiles in every corner of the Rangers’ practice facility this week.

“This has been a lot of fun because of the pride we put into each practice and each game as a team,” said defenseman Ryan McDonagh, an early-season standout. “We feel good about what we’ve accomplished because it hasn’t been our stars every night. Look around the room, and you’ll see everyone has contributed.”

Here are four keys to the Rangers’ winning streak.

Scoring Support

The Rangers’ highest-skilled and most compensated forwards — Marian Gaborik (4 goals, 3 assists) and Brad Richards (3 goals, 2 assists) — have been major factors in the run, but each was held off the scoresheet in three of the seven wins. The rest of team’s top six offensive forwards have stepped up: Ryan Callahan (5 goals, 3 assists), Derek Stepan (3 goals, 5 assists), Artem Anisimov (1 goal, 6 assists) and Brandon Dubinsky (1 goal, 5 assists).

“Confidence spreads through the team when so many guys are getting big goals,” Gaborik said. “We’ve had a different hero just about every night.”

The Rangers have out-scored their opponents, 27-11, over the seven wins.

“We’re making big plays at big times,” center Brian Boyle said.

In their most recent victory, a 4-2 win over the Islanders on Tuesday, Richards broke a 2-2 tie by converting a pass from Dubinsky with just under five minutes left in the third period. The Rangers’ nine game-winning goals this season have been scored by seven different players. Callahan and Richards lead the team with two each.

Standup Defense

The Rangers are without Marc Staal, their No. 1 defenseman, who remains sidelined with concussion symptoms. But two pairings of youngsters have embraced the responsibility of shutting down top lines. McDonagh, Dan Girardi, Michael Sauer and Michael Del Zotto are a combined plus-20 during the winning streak. Girardi has averaged 27 minutes 46 seconds of ice time, tops in the N.H.L. McDonagh, who averages just over 25 minutes a game, is 12th.

“With Marc out, we took it upon ourselves to do the job while he takes the times he needs,” McDonagh said.

McDonagh, 22, credits his playing time in the Rangers’ first-round playoff loss to Washington last April as the “wake-up call” for this season.

“In the good moments and bad ones, I learned a lot about a defenseman needs to do at this level,” he said.

McDonagh benefits by being paired with Girardi – at 27, the oldest and most accomplished of the group. The 21-year-old Del Zotto, a precocious puck carrier, is thriving alongside Sauer, a 6-foot-4 stay-at-home type. Coach John Tortorella said his team’s defense is the biggest factor in the Rangers’ knack for scoring clutch goals in close games.

“It’s our play away from the puck,” Tortorella continually stressed to reporters over the last week.

How each member of the blue-line quartet has improved over last season as measured by plus/minus per game:

Goaltending by Two

Henrik Lundqvist has a save percentage of .933, allowing just nine goals over his five wins in the streak. But his goaltending statistics are not even the best on his team. Martin Biron, his high-quality backup, shut out Winnipeg and gave up only two goals to San Jose in his pair of wins.

“Everyone knows Hank is one of the best goalies in the world,” Callahan said of Lundqvist, “but we have the luxury of two great goalies behind us. I don’t know how many teams can say they have the confidence in both our goalies like we do in Hank and Marty. We’ve made our share of mistakes in these games, and we really struggled early in the season. They’ve been our two of our most important players.”

There is an added benefit to Biron’s superb play. Lundqvist has played at least 68 games in each of the last five regular seasons. When the Rangers made the playoffs three of those years, he has not been fresh for the postseason. Tortorella’s trust in Biron should result in Lundqvist starting a more manageable 60 games.

Strong Work Habits

Despite the seven-game streak, the Rangers say it has been easy to stay humble.

“We want to get better each day,” Tortorella said of his team’s approach to practices.

Boyle said: “The good thing is, we’ve been far from perfect. So there’s been plenty for us to work on.”

After their victory Tuesday over the Islanders, the Rangers took one day to rest and then had two practices. Skills were sharpened in drills. Special teams play was adjusted. Line combinations, as always, were tinkered.

“Don’t get comfortable,” Tortorella said before his team left for Montreal. “We want our team to play the right way, and detail work is a part of it. To have a chance against Montreal, we’ll have to be better than we were against the Islanders.”

Metro Pucks: Rangers Are Perfect, Henrique Shines, the Coliseum Leaks

Our weekly review of the metropolitan area’s three N.H.L. teams.

Grades

Rangers: They played four home games this week and won them all, out-scoring opponents, 15-6. The Rangers beat Montreal and Winnipeg in regulation in back-to-back games over the weekend. Young centers Derek Stepan and Artem Anisimov, whose development is crucial to New York’s success this season, improved with each game in the homestand. It wasn’t always perfect – see the third period against Anaheim on Thursday – but it was a very good week for the Rangers. Grade: A

Devils: Like the Rangers, the Devils have mastered the craft of “finding ways to win.” After a loss to Toronto Tuesday in Martin Brodeur’s return from the injured list, the Devils played in Philadelphia 24 hours later, scored late in regulation to tie the game and won in a shootout. They reversed the scene Saturday at home, blowing a 2-0 third period lead to Winnipeg before winning in overtime. As a team expected to be in the battle for the final playoff spots in the East, the Devils do not want to give away points to clubs like Winnipeg. Still, wins in two out of three this week isn’t bad. Grade: B plus

Islanders: Thanks in part to trio of terrible goals allowed by Tomas Vokoun, the Islanders ended a six-game losing streak Saturday by beating Washington, 5-3. The victory was crucial for the young and confidence-challenged Islanders, who play three straight on the road this week, starting Monday night in Boston. Coach Jack Capuano was wise to rattle his forward lines after his team’s 3-0 loss to Winnipeg on Thursday. Win or lose, there’s no better way to identify the best competitors on your team. Grade: B

Metro Player of the Week

Adam Henrique, Devils – The 21-year-old returned from a recent skills-polishing stint in the minors to center a line featuring Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise. Henrique scored his first N.H.L. goal Wednesday in the win in Philadelphia. With Kovalchuk sidelined with an injury Saturday, Henrique scored twice – including the game-winner in overtime – against the Jets. The Devils’ third round pick from the 2008 draft probably won’t see the American Hockey League again this season.

Trending

Up: Metro New York Hockey – On Saturday, the Rangers, Devils and Islanders played home games to a combined audience of more than 47,000 – and they all won! No, the good attendance has nothing to do with the N.B.A. lockout. As evidenced by the passion in the stands shown in these early-season games, plenty of people in the tri-state area care about this sport.

Down: Henrik Tallinder – The Devils’ defenseman is 6 foot 4, 210 pounds and gifted with on-ice smarts, vision and mobility. But he has no goals and just one assist through 12 games this season and is a team-worst minus-6 (minus-4 this week). Pete DeBoer needs a lot more from Tallinder.

Up: Devils’ Outreach – As part of a national program called “Try Hockey For Free Day,” Devils alumni Ken Daneyko, Bruce Driver, Grant Marshall and President Lou Lamoriello hosted a clinic for 40 inner-city youths at the team’s practice facility Saturday. Willie O’Ree, the first black player in N.H.L. history, also took part. The Rangers and Islanders conducted clinics as well.

Up: P. A. Parenteau – The Islanders’ right wing is the personification of the “Moneyball” player on ice. Scouts may pick his game apart, but all Parenteau does is produce. In Capuano’s lineup shakeup, Parenteau was taken off John Tavares’ line. He responded with two assists and the game-winning goal against Washington. Parenteau has 11 points in 11 games.

Down: Al Montoya’s Playing Time – He was the Islanders’ starting goaltender for the season opener and was outstanding, posting a 2.02 goals-against average and .930 save percentage. But the team wanted to give Evgeni Nabokov some work and Rick DiPietro came off the injured list to play the last three games. Montoya has not seen a minute between the pipes in 17 days.

Down: Nassau Coliseum Roof – The roof of the old barn on Hempstead Turnpike on Long Island sprung another leak on Saturday, which meant relocating two sections of fans to other seats during the game against Washington.

Up: Marian Gaborik – Never mind the impressive stats (7 goals and 6 assists in 13 games), Gaborik has been outstanding this season in every aspect of the game. With or without Brad Richards, he has been the Rangers’ best forward regardless of the identity of his linemates. “He’s coming,” said John Tortorella.

Up: Michael Del Zotto – The 21-year-old defenseman, who spent most of last year in the minors after a solid rookie season, has regained his confidence. Since his defensive positioning has improved, Del Zotto feels more comfortable joining the play in the offensive zone. At plus-6, he is tied for the team lead with Ryan McDonagh.

Prospect Watch

In the sixth round of the 2009 N.H.L. draft, the Islanders selected Anders Lee, a 6 foot 3 forward from Minnesota. The team’s scouts received a tip that Lee, a star quarterback in high school, was going to give up the gridiron to focus solely on hockey. As a sophomore under Coach Jeff Jackson, Lee has ten goals in the first nine games of this season.

Rangers left wing prospect Carl Hagelin is off to a good start in his first year as a pro after playing four years at the University of Michigan. Hagelin, a 23-year-old left wing from Sweden, has 4 goals and 4 assists in 12 games with the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League.

The Devils signed Keith Kinkaid as a free agent in April, after the goaltender completed his sophomore year at Union College in upstate New York. Considered one of the best goalies in the E.C.A.C., Kinkaid has impressed from the start of his professional career. In his first five games with the Albany Devils of the A.H.L., Kinkaid has a 1.98 goals-against average and .930 save percentage.

Metro Pucks: Brodeur Aches, DiPietro Returns and Lundqvist Shines

All three marquee goaltenders of the New York metropolitan area N.H.L. clubs made news on Wednesday.

Martin Brodeur will be sidelined 7-to-10 days as he rehabilitates a shoulder injury he sustained in the Devils’ 2-1 shootout win over Los Angeles on Thursday. According to a statement released by the team, Brodeur will not need surgery. In the absence of the 39-year-old Brodeur, Johan Hedberg — who won in relief in the game against the Kings and beat Nashville on Saturday — will start when the Devils host San Jose at Prudential Center Friday.

Rick DiPietro has resumed practicing with the Islanders and accompanied the team on its two-game trip to Florida. DiPietro sustained a concussion last week when a shot by one of his teammates, Brian Rolston, struck him near the temple and shattered his goalie mask. The Islanders have received strong goaltending from Al Montoya and Evgeni Nabakov, their other two experienced pros on one-way N.H.L. contracts. In the team’s first four games of the regular season, the Islanders (3-1-0) allowed just 6 goals. They play the Lightning in Tampa, Fla., on Thursday and the Panthers in Sunrise, Fla. on Saturday.

If league custom would have allowed it, Henrik Lundqvist would have been named the first, second and third star in the Rangers’ 4-0 victory in Vancouver Tuesday night. Lundqvist made 40 saves for the shutout, keeping the game scoreless through two periods while his teammates were badly out-played by the speedier Canucks. Mike Rupp, Brian Boyle, Ryan McDonagh and Marian Gaborik scored in the third period to give the Rangers (1-1-2) their first victory of the season.

“Henrik gave us an opportunity and we found a way,” Rangers Coach John Tortorella said after the game. “Hank was outstanding. That’s the way it works. I was watching a game earlier today where a team was getting spanked and they ended up winning the hockey game. So hopefully we can at least find something good and try to regain some of our confidence here, with just a little bit more juice. That’s what we’ve been lacking.”

Metro Pucks: Report Cards, Awards and Analysis

The Rangers did not win a game. The Islanders and Devils did, but not after enduring the embarrassment of getting shut out before capacity crowds at their home openers. What was learned from the first six games of the season for the Rangers, Devils and Islanders? Not much in the 82-game big picture. But for the faithful who couldn’t wait for the second weekend in October, hockey provides plenty to analyze.

Grades

Rangers: Their two-game stand in Stockholm was nothing to write home about. The Rangers failed to protect a 2-1 lead Friday against Los Angeles and lost in overtime. Brad Richards scored late to tie the game against Anaheim on Saturday, but the Rangers lost in a shootout. Without Henrik Lundqvist’s heroics in net, they would have returned to New York pointless. Next up: a week of workouts in Westchester before facing the Islanders on Saturday at the old barn on Hempstead Turnpike. C-plus

Devils: They played their opener Saturday against the Flyers as if they were still in the exhibition season. “It looked to me like we were at practice speed and they were at N.H.L. game speed,” said Devils Coach Peter DeBoer said. Their 4-2 win over Carolina on Monday was imperfect, but important because they were led by their best forwards. Zach Parise had two goals and Ilya Kovalchuk scored the game-winner. Johan Hedberg was solid in goal. The Devils host the Kings on Thursday. B-minus

Islanders: They weren’t ready to play their home opener in front of a Nassau Coliseum crowd on Saturday packed with true believers. An injury-prevention preseason schedule – with most of the Islanders’ best players participating in only two games – may have been the reason the Panthers skated circles around them. But they got off the mat to beat Minnesota, 2-1, on Monday. The Islanders’ penalty-killing units were exceptional. Still, the team played only one strong period – Monday’s first – over the first six of the regular season. They’ll need to do a lot better when they host Tampa Bay on Thursday and the Rangers on Saturday. B-minus

Metro Puck Player of the Week(end)

Al Montoya, Islanders: Jack Capuano’s No. 1-for-now allowed a combined three goals over two games and none of them were softies. He may not have made the spectacular stops Lundqvist made in Sweden, but he was poised and in control of his rebounds – exactly what the Islanders’ defense needs. Among the appointed No. 1s, including Lundqvist and Martin Brodeur, only Montoya earned his team a win. In this era of shootouts, when standing points are handed out in the N.H.L. like Snickers on Halloween, a win still has to mean something.

Trending

Up: Zach Parise, Devils – In a positive development for a team that badly needs him back at his best, Parise scored two goals in the Devils’ win over Carolina. “He was everywhere on the ice,” DeBoer said. Parise has shown no ill effects from the torn meniscus that kept him out of all but 13 games last season.

Down: Evgeni Nabokov, Islanders – The longtime first-string Sharks goalie said and did all the right things in training camp, but still finds himself sitting in a luxury suite during games as the No. 3 behind Montoya and Rick DiPietro. You have to wonder how long the 36-year-old Nabokov will stand for getting fewer reps in practice as he makes barely over the league minimum while his family stays in California. Right now it looks as if it will take an injury to one goalie and substandard play by another for Nabokov to get regular action. Let’s see how patient he is.

Theories

It took Adam Larsson all of, well, about two shifts to establish himself as the Devils’ No. 1 defenseman. The assistant coach Larry Robinson provided the 18-year-old from Sweden an average of 23 minutes 10 seconds over his team’s first two games of the season – most among Devils defensemen. Especially since New Jersey has plenty of capable defenders, this seems like too much, too soon for Larsson. The N.H.L. season is 82 games plus playoffs. Not including his work for the national junior squad, Larsson played a combined 86 regular-season games over the last two years in the Swedish Elite League.

After 65 games this season, count up the games lost to injury by the Islanders’ top three defensemen: Mark Streit, Travis Hamonic and Andrew MacDonald. If the combined total is fewer than 20, the Islanders will still be in the playoff hunt.

The Rangers waited a year to get Richards to center Marian Gaborik. They will now probably spend the better part of this season finding the most effective left wing to play with Gaborik and Richards. John Tortorella will grow tired of thinking and talking about it, and he will not be alone.

Spin vs. Straight Talk

Spin: In explaining to Howie Rose of the MSG Network why the Islanders were carrying three goaltenders on their roster, Capuano used a football analogy:

“Look at the Indianapolis Colts.”

The Islanders coach was referring, of course, to the Colts’ lack of depth at quarterback with Peyton Manning probably lost for the season. But there is no comparison between the talent pools of N.F.L. quarterbacks and N.H.L. goaltenders. The Lightning reached the Eastern Conference finals last season behind Dwayne Roloson, acquired on Jan. 1 from the Islanders for the low cost of a minor prospect. The Flyers reached the Stanley Cup finals in 2010 with two goalies, Brian Boucher and Michael Leighton, who have been regular residents on the waiver wire. When the Islanders ran out of healthy goaltenders in February, General Manager Garth Snow acquired Montoya from Phoenix for a sixth-round draft pick. Now Montoya is the starter.

The N.F.L. doesn’t have 32 first-rate quarterbacks, let alone backups skilled enough to take a team to a title. Capuano has three goaltenders because the Islanders already had two when they decided to take Nabokov off waivers after he signed with the Red Wings. Montoya, Nabokov and DiPietro are good goalies, but are replaceable. Manning is not.

Straight Talk: When the Rangers had completed their 12-day European trek through the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Sweden, Tortorella had some lovely words in praise of the cities they visited, arenas they competed in and people they met. But he also did not hold back his feelings on Saturday about getting back to New York and a more typical practice routine and travel schedule:

“I just want to leave.”

Metro Pucks: Tavares and Isles at Head of Class

Our weekly review of the performances of the three local N.H.L. teams.

Grades

Islanders: In their two games after Columbus Day weekend, the Islanders won one by blowout, the other in a nailbiter, and both impressively. They put away Tampa Bay early on Thursday, 5-1, by jumping out to a 4-1 lead after the first period. The Islanders beat the Rangers on Saturday, 4-2, by carrying play in the third period of a game tied at 2-2 after two.

Coach Jack Capuano’s first line of John Tavares centering Matt Moulson and P. A. Parenteau was the difference in both games. The Islanders also received quality goaltending —Al Montoya against Tampa Bay, Evgeni Nabakov against the Rangers —and committed team defense. After the big dud in their home opener against Florida, the Islanders ran off three straight wins at the Coliseum. The road schedule begins this week with games Thursday in Tampa Bay and Saturday against the Panthers. Grade: A

Rangers: The loss to the Islanders gave the Rangers a record of 0-1-2 to start the season. The European trek may have disrupted their preparation and the Rangers are without top defenseman Marc Staal, but no one is going to feel sorry for Coach John Tortorella and his winless club. Staal is not coming back any time soon and the club had a week at home to prepare for the Islanders.

They weren’t terrible in Uniondale, but their forward lines have not been able to string together effective shifts. Their best all-around player on Saturday was Derek Stepan, the second-year pro out of Wisconsin who does everything well and without the flash. Brandon Dubinsky, among many others, needs to be a lot better. Wins will not come any easier as the Rangers leave the country again for a Canadian swing that begins Tuesday in Vancouver. Grade: C-minus

Devils: After a shootout win at home over Los Angeles on Thursday, the Devils really demonstrated guts and spunk two nights later by coming back from a 2-0 deficit after two periods to win in a shootout in Nashville. New Jersey tied the score when Mattias Tedenby threaded a perfect pass to David Clarkson, who scored with 2 minutes left in regulation.

Since they’re relying primarily on Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise for goal scoring, the pressure is on the New Jersey defense. So far, it has been solid. The front six on the blue line — Adam Larsson, Mark Fayne, Anton Volchenkov, Andy Greene, Henrik Tallinder and Bryce Salvador — are among the league’s most underrated. The Devils do not play a game until Friday, when they host the San Jose Sharks. Grade: B-plus

Metro Puck Player of the Week

John Tavares, Islanders: He was the best player among the three locals in a landslide and deserving of consideration for player of the week in the N.H.L., awarded on Monday. Tavares had five goals and three assists in the victories over Tampa Bay and the Rangers. The highlight of his hat trick Saturday was his game-winner on the power play early in the third period to break a 2-2 tie. The best illustration of how far this elite talent has come in just over two seasons of pro hockey came later in the third as he bounced off a big check from a Ranger, kept his balance and set up yet another scoring chance for his linemates. If Tavares plays this way on the road, New York will have a new hockey superstar. Here’s the hat trick:

Trending

Up: Devils’ Shootout Prowess – How’s this for a fast and simple recipe to earn the second standings point in the postgame skills competition? Have Kovalchuk and Parise score on world-class moves and sit back and relax as Johan “Moose” Hedberg stops both opponents. In the Devils’ shootout victories on Thursday and Saturday, the third inning was never needed. For his N.H.L. career, Hedberg is now 20-7 in the shootout.

Down: Rangers’ Toughness – So maybe Sean Avery has lost enough of his edge for the pesky wing to no longer merit a job as one of the Rangers’ top 13 forwards. But something is amiss with the Blueshirts. It’s one thing to be winless in three games to start the season; it’s unacceptable to be an easy team to play against. The Rangers need to upgrade their toughness quotient or opponents will continue to skate into their end without a care in the world. Calling up Kris Newbury and demoting Mats Zuccarello to the minors, as Glen Sather did after the loss on Long Island, is not enough.

Up: Capuano’s Gut – The likeable Islanders coach often describes his decision-making process by saying, “I had a feeling in my gut.” Lately, his tummy is on fire. Capuano is a perfect 4 for 4 in his starting goalie selection this season, making the surprising decision to give Evgeni Nabokov his first game as an Islander against the Rangers on Saturday. He and his staff have also made wise in-game adjustments, like placing brawny fourth-line forward Matt Martin just outside the crease to distract Henrik Lundqvist during an Islanders power play.

Theories

The Rangers need to return from their four-game Canadian trip with more than just their first win of the season. They do not want to finally open at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 27 with a sad record and no momentum. Anything less than five points earned from the games in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg — the last three  are especially winnable games — should be considered a failure.

The Islanders should be pleased with winning three of the four games of the season-opening homestand. When they take their act on the road, however, they will need production from players other than the members of their first line. Through four games, Tavares, Moulson and Parenteau have a combined 8 goals and 11 assists for 19 points. No one among the Islanders’ other forwards has more than one point. Just two, Michael Grabner and Frans Nielsen, have scored.

Kovalchuk’s Good Deed

Like many in the hockey community, Ilya Kovalchuk lost a lot of good friends when the airplane carrying the K.H.L. club Lokomotiv Yaroslavl crashed in Russia on Sept. 7. Kovalchuk is raising money for a victims’ family fund by sending autographed photos to supporters who contribute at least $17.

“This was a big tragedy that affected so many lives,” Kovalchuk said. “We should do everything we can to help.”

Those interested in donating and receiving a signed photograph of Kovalchuk should send an e-mail to info@puckagency.com. You will receive a response with details on how to make your contribution.

For Rupp, Focus Is on Families in Need

When the Rangers finally get off the road at the end of this month, Mike Rupp wants to do more than think about and play hockey.

“The game is my job,” said Rupp, who signed with the Rangers as a free agent in July after two seasons with the Penguins. “I never lose sight of that. But I don’t feel like I’m in this world just to play hockey. The N.H.L. has provided me with a great livelihood, but I also have a platform to make a difference.”

A 6-foot-5, 230-pound power forward and frequent fighter, Rupp is also one of the most civic-minded players in the league. He and his wife, Christi, are not interested in just showing up for photos opportunities for charities. Last Christmas, the Rupps wanted to do more for the families they had connected with through the Ronald McDonald House of Pittsburgh. One day after practice, they rented a bus to take 40 people to Ohio for a “Polar Express” train ride – complete with Santa, presents, dinner and Mike and Christi serving chocolate chip cookies and milk.

“You should have seen the faces of these children,” said Becky Magnelli, the assistant family director with Ronald McDonald House. “What Michael and Christi and their own children did for these families was one of the most beautiful things any of us had ever seen. They are special people,” she said.

In Pittsburgh, Rupp and his wife became close to a 12-year-old boy named Austin, who died last year of bone cancer. Austin’s death hit home with the hockey player, who has three children – Maddie, 8, Mason, 6, and Max, 2 – with Christi.

“Austin was such a good kid,” said Rupp. “We learned so much about what’s important from being around him.”

The Rupps sponsor nine children internationally through McDonald House. Christi leads the way in all efforts. “Mike has a level of fame as an N.H.L. player,” she said. “I don’t care about riding his coattails to help people.” They encourage their young children to participate; Maddie and Mason use birthday and holiday money to buy Silly Bandz as their contribution to care packages. When Nicole Cleland, a woman from South Park, Penn., lost her 7-year-old daughter and unborn child and suffered serious injuries when her car was struck by a drunk driver, Mike lined up members of the Penguins and Pittsburgh Pirates for an autograph session to raise money for a family fund.

The Rangers recently returned from two weeks in Europe and leave for four games over 10 days in Western Canada after facing the Islanders in Uniondale on Saturday. Because of renovations at Madison Square Garden, the team’s home opener is not until Oct. 27. Rupp, 31, is eager to immerse his family in local charities when the Rangers finally have a stretch in New York. He favors programs like the Ronald McDonald House that assist families affected by illness and injury.

“When a child is seriously ill, the last thing you want to worry about are the bills and whether there’s food on the table,” said Rupp after Rangers practice on Wednesday. “If we can help these people sleep peacefully for a few hours and not fret over other issues, we should.”

Metro Puck: Report Cards, Awards and Analysis

The Rangers did not win a game. The Islanders and Devils did, but not after enduring the embarrassment of getting shut out before capacity crowds at their respective home openers. What was learned from the first six games of the season for the Rangers, Devils and Islanders? Not much in the 82-game big picture. But for the faithful who couldn’t wait for the second weekend in October, hockey provides plenty to analyze.

Grades

Rangers: Their two-game stand in Stockholm was nothing to write home about. The Rangers failed to protect a 2-1 lead Friday against Los Angeles and lost in overtime. Brad Richards scored late to tie the game against Anaheim on Saturday, but the Rangers lost in a shootout. Without Henrik Lundqvist’s heroics in net, they would have returned to New York pointless. Next up: a week of workouts in Westchester before facing the Islanders on Saturday at the old barn on Hempstead Turnpike. C-plus

Devils: They played their opener Saturday against the Flyers like they were still in the exhibition season. “It looked to me like we were at practice speed and they were at N.H.L. game speed,” said Devils Coach Peter DeBoer. Their 4-2 win over Carolina on Monday was imperfect, but important because they were led by their best forwards. Zach Parise had two goals and Ilya Kovalchuk scored the game-winner. Johan Hedberg was solid in goal. The Devils host the Kings on Thursday. B-minus

Islanders: They weren’t ready to play their home opener in front of a Nassau Coliseum crowd on Saturday packed with true believers. An injury-prevention preseason schedule – with most of the Islanders’ best players only participating in two games – may have been the reason the Panthers skated circles around them. But they got off the mat to beat Minnesota, 2-1, on Monday. The Islanders’ penalty killing units were exceptional. Still, the team played only one strong period – Monday’s first – over the first six of the regular season. They’ll need to do a lot better when they host Tampa Bay on Thursday and the Rangers on Saturday. B-minus

Metro Puck Player of the Week(end)

Al Montoya, Islanders: Jack Capuano’s No. 1-for-now allowed a combined three goals over two games and none of them were softies. He may not have made the spectacular stops Lundqvist made in Sweden, but he was poised and in control of his rebounds – exactly what the Islanders’ defense needs. Among the appointed No. 1s, including Lundqvist and Martin Brodeur, only Montoya earned his team a win. In this era of shootouts, when standing points are handed out in the N.H.L. like Snickers on Halloween, a win still has to mean something.

Trending

Up: Zach Parise, Devils — In a positive development for a team that badly needs him back at his best, Parise scored two goals in the Devils’ win over Carolina. “He was everywhere on the ice,” said DeBoer. Parise has shown no ill effects from the torn meniscus that kept him out of all but 13 games last season.

Down: Evgeni Nabokov, Islanders – The longtime first-string Sharks goalie said and did all the right things in training camp, but still finds himself sitting in a luxury suite during games as the No. 3 behind Montoya and Rick DiPietro. You have to wonder how long the 36-year-old Nabokov will stand for getting fewer reps in practice as he makes barely over the league minimum while his family stays in California. Right now it looks like it will take an injury to one goalie and substandard play by another for Nabokov to get regular action. Let’s see how patient he is.

Theories

It took Adam Larsson all of, well, about two shifts to establish himself as the Devils’ No. 1 defenseman. Assistant Coach Larry Robinson provided the 18-year-old from Sweden an average of 23 minutes, 10 seconds over his team’s first two games of the season – most among Devils defensemen. Especially since New Jersey has plenty of capable defenders, this seems like too much, too soon for Larsson. The N.H.L. season is 82 games plus playoffs. Not including his work for the national junior squad, Larsson played a combined 86 regular season games over the last two years in the Swedish Elite League.

After 65 games this season, count up the games lost to injury by the Islanders’ top three defensemen: Mark Streit, Travis Hamonic and Andrew MacDonald. If the combined total is less than 20, the Islanders will still be in the playoff hunt.

The Rangers waited a year to get Richards to center Marian Gaborik. They will now likely spend the better part of this season finding the most effective left wing to play with Gaborik and Richards. John Tortorella will grow tired of thinking and talking about it, and he will not be alone.

Spin vs. Straight Talk

Spin: In explaining to Howie Rose of the MSG Network why the Islanders were carrying three goaltenders on their roster, Capuano used a football analogy:

“Look at the Indianapolis Colts.”

The Islanders Coach was referring, of course, to the Colts’ lack of depth at quarterback with Peyton Manning lost for the season. But there is no comparison between the talent pools of N.F.L. quarterbacks and N.H.L. goaltenders. The Lightning reached the Eastern Conference finals last season behind Dwayne Roloson, acquired on Jan. 1 from the Islanders for the low cost of a minor prospect. The Flyers reached the Stanley Cup finals in 2010 with two goalies, Brian Boucher and Michael Leighton, who have been regular residents on the waiver wire. When the Islanders ran out of healthy goaltenders in February, General Manager Garth Snow acquired Montoya from Phoenix for a sixth-round draft pick. Now Montoya is the starter.

The N.F.L. doesn’t have 32 first-rate quarterbacks, let alone backups skilled enough to take a team to a title. Capuano has three goaltenders because the Islanders already had two when they decided to take Nabokov off waivers after he signed with the Red Wings. Montoya, Nabokov and DiPietro are good goalies, but are replaceable. Manning is not.

Straight Talk: When the Rangers had completed their 12-day European trek through the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Sweden, Tortorella had some lovely words in praise of the cities they visited, arenas they competed in and people they met. But he also did not hold back his feelings on Saturday about getting back to New York and a more typical practice routine and travel schedule:

“I just want to leave.”

2-on-1: Are Rangers Stanley Cup Contenders, or Just a Good Hockey Club?

In the second installment of our season preview conversations, New York Times hockey writers Jeff Z. Klein and Christopher Botta discuss talk about the Rangers, whose season opens Friday in Stockholm against the Los Angeles Kings.

Botta: Jeff, are you finding it as difficult as I am to make a prediction about the Rangers’ season when we don’t know the status of Marc Staal, their do-everything, 30-minute defenseman?

Klein: Yes, Chris, I am. And really, given what we already knew about Sidney Crosby and his concussion last February, I can’t believe the Rangers had Staal back in the lineup when he was still symptomatic— and I’m surprised Staal went along with it.

More than that, I still really can’t believe his brother, Eric, saw fit to slaughter Marc when a simple body check would have been just as effective for taking the puck. Talk about a series of actions that show just how much the N.H.L. mind-set has to change.

Botta: It’s scary to think that Marc is still not feeling well as a result of a hit delivered in a game in February, yet he logged big minutes in the Rangers’ run for the playoffs the next two months.

But for this discussion, let’s make the leap that Staal comes back within the first 20 games and maintains good health. Are the Rangers contenders to represent the East in the Stanley Cup finals or merely a very good team capable of winning a round, maybe two?

Klein: I figure with Brad Richards and another year under the belt for Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, Dan Girardi, Michael Sauer, Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan and the rest of the young veterans, they’ve got to improve. A couple of playoff rounds, sure. But they just don’t look like true Cup material to me.

Botta: I’d have to agree. The one thing we know with the Rangers, however, is they have the resources and desire to make a major deal before the trade deadline if Glen Sather thinks an acquisition will put them over the top. So we cannot rule anything out when it comes to the playoffs, which I’m fairly certain they’ll make.

Who do you think is the best left wing to play on the line with Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik? And do you feel Richards and Gaborik will have any trouble establishing chemistry? In addition to the health of Staal, the success of the Rangers’ season depends on those two big-contract stars.

Klein: Aye, you’ve got that right.

Botta: Let me jump in here and tell the readers that Jeff really does say things like “Aye.”

Klein: I think Richards, one of the best assist men playing the game today, can establish a potent partnership with Gaborik and feed him plenty of goals. Not sure it’s really important who the other winger will be. Sean Avery might’ve been a good fit with his ability to dig the puck out from behind the net and zing it into the slot, but I guess we won’t be seeing that anytime soon.

Botta: No, we won’t. Sean’s departure is a big loss for New York’s hockey writers and the producers of HBO’s “24/7.” Let me ask you this, Jeff: what are the Rangers’ weaknesses?

Klein: One’s obvious, and one’s hidden. The obvious one is they’ve got to limit Henrik Lundqvist to 60 games, maximum, come hell or high water. Every Stanley Cup-winning goalie of the last five years has played about that number, and Lundqvist ought to as well, because he enters every postseason stretched too far. The other, hidden, weakness is Brad Richards’s two-way play: he’s minus-72 for his career.

Botta: Centering Callahan’s line, Artem Anisimov is poised for a breakout season. I guess I’m showing my skepticism here, but do you think Anisimov is consistent enough and ready, at age 23, to be a strong second-line center?

Klein: Depends. There are decent second-line centers, which Anisimov seems destined to be, and then there are really, really good second-line centers, like Vinny Lecavalier, Patrice Bergeron, Patrick Sharp, Henrik Zetterberg, Mike Richards, Ryan Kesler. … I’m not trying to be mean, but that’s one surefire way to tell a real Cup contender from a Cup pretender.

Botta: I can understand what you’re saying. Anisimov had 18 goals and 44 points last season, so a true breakthrough would be something like 25 goals and 60 points. I don’t know if he has the competitiveness, the fire, to produce on that level. Callahan’s staying healthy would help.

I was wondering who you think are the most underrated players on the Rangers.

Klein: Michael Sauer and Ryan McDonagh, the quietly efficient young defensive pair.

Botta: Agree on Sauer. The kid’s come out of nowhere to be a really solid No. 4 defenseman and I feel his positive attitude has been infectious even on the older players. I like McDonagh. He has more upside than Sauer, but I would be concerned about a bit of a step-back year for him, especially with the increased workload while Staal recovers. But I see you put a lot of stock in plus/minus, Jeff.

Klein: Plus-20 and plus-16 for Sauer and McDonagh, respectively, easily the best on the team.

Botta: So what’s the final math? After 82 regular-season games, where will the Rangers finish in the East? This is a collection of athletes that’s easy to like, but I’m not ready to sign on as a true believer. I see them finishing in sixth place in the conference.

Klein: I see them improving from last year’s eighth all the way up to fifth. But I can’t see them reaching the level of Boston, Washington, Tampa Bay or Pittsburgh.

Rangers, Devils and Islanders Set Their Opening Night Rosters

Although the waiving of Sean Avery by the Rangers made headlines, there were few surprises among the three local N.H.L. teams when final rosters were submitted on Wednesday afternoon. In a league of one-way contracts, in which veterans are compensated equally whether they are in the N.H.L. or demoted to the minors, training camp competition is largely a myth.

The 2011-12 regular season starts Thursday night, with the Rangers debuting first among the locals with a 1:00 EST matchup on Friday against the Los Angeles Kings in Stockholm. On Saturday, the Islanders host the Panthers and the Devils play the Flyers at Prudential Center. Here are the final rosters for each team, followed by some news and views.

RANGERS

Goaltenders: Martin Biron, Henrik Lundqvist, Scott Stajcer

Defensemen: Brendan Bell, Stu Bickel, Michael Del Zotto, Tim Erixon, Steve Eminger, Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh, Michael Sauer, Marc Staal (injured)

Centers: Artem Anisimov, Brian Boyle, Erik Christensen, Brad Richards, Derek Stepan

Wings: Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubnsky, Ruslan Fedotenko, Marian Gaborik, Brandon Prust, Mike Rupp, Wojtek Wolski, Mats Zuccarello

Notes: The Rangers may have been in denial or just employed wishful thinking in the case of No. 1 defenseman Marc Staal, who continues to suffer from concussion symptoms and has not been cleared for contact. Staal is not joining the team for the games in Europe and is out indefinitely. General Manager Glen Sather recalled Tim Erixon, resulting in a nice story as the New York-born, Sweden-raised defensive prospect may make his N.H.L. debut at home. Sather is reportedly in discussions with the representatives for Paul Mara, at this point in his career a third-pair defenseman but a capable puck-mover.

Coach John Tortorella is opting to put Dubinsky to the left of Richards and Gaborik on the first line to start the season. Christensen is expected to start the season as the Rangers’ extra forward. If Wolski cannot get his game together – he failed his first audition to play with Richards – Tortorella won’t hesitate to call on Christensen and his shootout prowess.

Stacjer remains as the third goaltender, allowed by the league for all teams opening the season in Europe. When the Rangers return home on Sunday, the young goalie will be bound for the minors.

DEVILS

Goaltenders: Martin Brodeur, Johan Hedberg

Defensemen: Mark Fayne, Andy Greene, Adam Larsson, Bryce Salvador, Henrik Tallinder, Anton Volchenkov

Centers: Adam Henrique, Jacob Josefson, Bradley Mills, Travis Zajac (injured), Dainius Zubrus

Wings: Eric Boulton, David Clarkson, Patrik Elias, Cam Janssen, Ilya Kovalchuk, Nick Palmieri, Zach Parise, Mattias Tedenby

Notes: Sykora was signed to a one-year contract after attending camp as a tryout. He will start his comeback on a line with his longtime teammate, Elias, at center and Parise at left wing.

Anton Stralman, also a tryout, is still with the team but has yet to be signed to a contract. The Devils will have to remove a roster player if they decide to sign the big defenseman.

The Devils named Parise captain on Wednesday. The selection was made by General Manager Lou Lamoriello and Coach Peter DeBoer.

ISLANDERS

Goaltenders: Rick DiPietro, Al Montoya, Evgeni Nabokov

Defensemen: Mark Eaton, Travis Hamonic, Milan Jurcina (injured), Andrew MacDonald, Mike Mottau, Steve Staios, Mark Streit

Centers: Josh Bailey, Frans Nielsen, John Tavares, Marty Reasoner, Ryan Strome

Wings: Blake Comeau, Trevor Gillies (injured), Michael Grabner, Matt Martin, Matt Moulson, Nino Niederreiter (injured), Kyle Okposo, Jay Pandolfo, P. A. Parenteau, Brian Rolston, Ryan Strome

Notes: The Islanders signed Strome, the 5th overall pick in the 2011 draft, on Tuesday. At 178 pounds, the gifted 18-year-old center is not ready for regular action at the N.H.L. level, but the Islanders will keep him around for a while to watch and possibly substitute since Niederreiter is sidelined with a groin injury.

The Islanders’ acquisitions for this season are all over 33 years of age: Reasoner (34), Pandolfo (36), Nabokov (36), Staios (37) and Rolston (38). The team’s youngsters required mentoring by experienced players. The first half of the season should tell whether the Islanders added the right ones.

According to the website Capgeek, the Islanders have a salary cap number of $52.6 million. But take away buyouts (Alexei Yashin, Brendan Witt) and bonuses – many highly unattainable – and the Islanders have a payroll of $38 million.

Avery Clears Waivers

Rangers agitator Sean Avery cleared N.H.L. waivers on Wednesday, 24 hours after the Rangers placed him there and he was assigned to their American League affiliate in Hartford, the Connecticut Whale.

It came as little surprise that Avery went unclaimed by another team, which would have to pay him $2 million this season, high for a player who scored three goals last season.

When Avery was waived, his agent Pat Morris said he could explore avenues for Avery to play in Europe. The Rangers would have to agree to that, but likely would.

The Rangers also placed defenseman Marc Staal on injured reserve as he recovers from the effects of a concussion and recalled defenseman Tim Erixon from the Whale.

Rangers Set Lines in Prague; Staal Resumes Skating

In a game far, far away from Manhattan, and not even available to the faithful via Web stream in North America, Rangers Coach John Tortorella decided to play his projected top forward lines together for the first time in training camp. Well, almost.

The Rangers defeated Sparta Prague HC, 2-0, on Thursday at Tesla Arena in the Czech Republic. They did so playing three and two-thirds of the four lines Tortorella would like to have when the regular season opens Oct. 7 with a game against the Los Angeles Kings in Stockholm. The trios:

Wojtek Wolski – Brad Richards – Marian Gaborik

Brandon Dubinsky – Artem Anisimov – Ryan Callahan

Ruslan Fedotenko – Derek Stepan – Mats Zuccarello

Mike Rupp – Erik Christensen – Brandon Prust

Eleven of the 12 forwards in Prague figure to be the Rangers’ regulars at forward. The lone exception is Christensen, a slippery puck-handler who is money in the shootout but not as consistent when six players from each team are on the ice. The 6-foot-7 center Brian Boyle, who scored 21 goals in a breakthrough season in 2010-11, is much more likely to be in Christensen’s place.

In the victory over Sparta Prague, Anisimov and Fedotenko scored second-period goals and Martin Biron stopped 23 shots for the shutout.

Progress for Staal: The Rangers said that defenseman Marc Staal (concussion symptoms) would practice on Friday with the Connecticut Whale, the club’s American Hockey League affiliate in Hartford. The Rangers hope Staal can rejoin them in Europe for the start of the regular season. “We’ll see how he reacts,” Tortorella said. “If it’s positive results, we’ll get him here.”

THE GAMES

The Rangers will play Friday against Frolunda, Henrik Lundqvist’s former Swedish Elite League team. The goalie is expected to start the game, which will be broadcast live at 1 p.m. Eastern on MSG Network. The Rangers will complete their preseason schedule with games Sunday in Slovakia against HC Slovan and Monday in Switzerland against EV Zug.

*

The Devils lost, 2-1, in Philadelphia on Thursday on a game-winning power-play goal by Jaromir Jagr with just over 7 minutes left in the third period. The good news for the Devils was the strong play of Martin Brodeur, the 39-year-old goaltender for three Stanley Cup champions in New Jersey. Watch Brodeur slide post-to-post on this save on Jagr off a feed from Braydon Coburn.

New Jersey closes out its exhibition schedule this weekend with a pair of games at the Prudential Center in Newark, Friday against the Islanders and Saturday against the Flyers. Coach Pete DeBoer will likely make his final roster decisions on Monday so he can put the chosen 22 players through a full week of practice. The Devils open the regular season Oct. 8 at home against Philadelphia.

*

After the matchup in New Jersey on Friday, the Islanders play their final exhibition game on Saturday in Bridgeport, Conn., against the Boston Bruins. Coach Jack Capuano has his top two lines virtually set:

Matt Moulson – John Tavares – P.A. Parenteau

Michael Grabner – Frans Nielsen – Kyle Okposo

Capuano is still giving 19-year-old Nino Niederreiter a look in Parenteau’s place on the third line. With the exceptional puck-moving defenseman Mark Streit back after missing all of last season with a shoulder injury, the Islanders should have no problem scoring goals at even strength and on the power play. The challenge will be keeping opponents from scoring. Veteran defenseman Milan Jurcina, a 6-4 stalwart in his team’s end who played only 46 games last season because of an assortment of ailments, is sidelined with a groin strain suffered in the Islanders’ 2-0 loss in Calgary on Tuesday.

Metro Pucks: Final Roster Decisions for the Rangers, Islanders and Devils

In the N.H.L. world of guaranteed one-way contracts – by which established veteran players make the same salary even if sent to the minors –the notion of widespread competition for jobs in training camp is primarily a myth. There are, however, a few spots still open on the rosters of the Rangers, Islanders and Devils with a few exhibition games remaining.

Here is a position-by-position breakdown of which players are safe and who needs to make a stand to crack the opening night lineup.

New York Rangers

Forwards

Set for Lineup (11 of 13 available spots): Artem Anisimov, Brian Boyle, Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, Ruslan Fedotenko, Marian Gaborik, Brandon Prust, Brad Richards, Mike Rupp, Derek Stepan, Wojtek Wolski

Veterans Pushing: Sean Avery, Erik Christensen, Mats Zuccarello

Prospects Competing: Ryan Bourque, Carl Hagelin, Dale Weise

Notes: As the Rangers play the first of four European preseason games Thursday in Prague, Zuccarello is the front-runner for a spot in the starting 12. The coaching staff is pleased with his off-season workouts and the Norway native provides a bonus with his efficiency in the shootout. Avery, as is his style, will not go quietly. Bourque, Hagelin and Weise are among a group of youngsters to please Coach John Tortorella in camp and will be utilized during the season when injuries hit.

Defensemen

Set for Lineup (5 of 7 available spots): Steve Eminger, Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh, Michael Sauer, Marc Staal

Veterans Pushing: Brendan Bell, Stu Bickel

Prospects Competing: Michael Del Zotto, Tim Erixon

Notes: Del Zotto had a very good rookie season in 2009-10, but regressed last year and was sent to the minors. The former first-round pick must improve his play in the defensive zone. Erixon, the son of former Rangers forward Jan Erixon who was born in New York, was acquired in an off-season deal with Calgary and has the most upside of the youngsters. Especially with the uncertain status of Staal (recurring concussion symptoms), the Rangers will consider signing an available free agent for depth.

Goaltenders

Set for Lineup (2 of 2 available spots): Martin Biron, Henrik Lundqvist

Notes: Prospect Scott Stajcer is with the Rangers in Europe for the balance of the exhibition season, but Lundqvist and Biron are entrenched as the team’s tandem in goal.

New York Islanders

Forwards

Set for Lineup (11 of 12 available spots): Josh Bailey, Blake Comeau, Michael Grabner, Matt Moulson, Nino Niederreiter, Frans Nielsen, Kyle Okposo, P.A. Parenteau, Marty Reasoner, Brian Rolston, John Tavares

Enforcer: Trevor Gillies

Veterans Pushing: Matt Martin, Micheal Haley, Jay Pandolfo

Prospects Competing: David Ullstrom, Rhett Rakhshani

Notes: The Swiss rookie Niederreiter will make the club, so the only open jobs are on Coach Jack Capuano’s fourth line. Gillies will be the 13th forward, shuffling in and out of the lineup when a heavyweight fighter is required. Pandolfo, the longtime Devils grinder, has yet to stand out in camp. Martin, young and tough on the wing, is an incumbent and currently the leader to stick. The organization’s most talented prospect, Ryan Strome (the fifth overall draft pick in 2011), needs another year of first-line ice time and bulking up in the Ontario Hockey League.

Defensemen

Set for Lineup (6 of 8 available spots): Mark Eaton, Travis Hamonic, Milan Jurcina, Andrew MacDonald, Mike Mottau, Mark Streit

Veteran Pushing: Steve Staios

Prospect Competing: Calvin de Haan

Notes: The uncertain status of McDonald, the steady two-way defender coming off hip surgery, should prompt General Manager Garth Snow to add a veteran or two to this very thin corps. The 37-year-old Staios is in camp on a tryout agreement. He is gritty and experienced and will likely be signed, but cannot be Snow’s only answer. The talented de Haan is only 20 years old and just out of the Ontario Hockey League. Although he’ll see games with the big club this season, he would be best served by some development time in the minors.

Goaltenders

Set for Lineup (2 of 2 available spots): Rick DiPietro, Al Montoya

Veteran Pushing: Evgeni Nabokov

Prospect Competing: Kevin Poulin

Notes: DiPietro and Montoya got here first, so they will be given the first cracks by management at the No. 1 job. It’s up to Nabokov, the longtime Sharks netminder who sat out most of last season, to steal a job and not let go. (A three-goalie rotation has rarely worked in the N.H.L.) Of all the goaltenders in the Islanders’ system, the Quebec League-developed Poulin is arguably the most talented. He’ll get his chance to lead the position in the next year or two.

New Jersey Devils

Forwards

Set for Lineup (10 of 13 available spots): Eric Boulton, David Clarkson, Patrik Elias, Jacob Josefson, Ilya Kovalchuk, Zack Parise, Rod Pelley David Steckel, Mattias Tedenby, Dainius Zubrus

Injured: Travis Zajac (out until at least December with a torn Achilles’ tendon, suffered during an off-season workout)

Veterans Pushing: Cam Janssen, Petr Sykora

Prospects Competing: Adam Henrique, Adam Mills, Nick Palmieri, Vladimir Zharkov

Notes: Boulton, a rugged wing with a willingness to fight, signed a two-year, one-way contract with New Jersey after playing the last six seasons with the departed Atlanta Thrashers. Janssen is also on a one-way deal, making them a leading contender to stick, but first-year Coach Pete DeBoer may prefer to add skill in Sykora, who is in camp as a tryout and has performed well. The void created by Zajac’s injury may have to be filled with a trade or waiver wire acquisition. Henrique (a playmaker) and Mills (a workhorse) have been standouts in camp.

Defensemen

Set for Lineup (6 of 7 available spots): Mark Fraser, Andy Greene, Adam Larsson, Bryce Salvador, Henrik Tallinder, Anton Volchenkov

Veterans Pushing: Peter Harrold, Anton Stralman

Prospects Competing: Matt Corrente, Mark Fayne, Matt Taormina

Notes: Devils management will do its best to manage expectations for Larsson – the brilliant fourth overall pick in this summer’s draft – but there is no doubt he’s making the team. Stralman, who played the previous two seasons in Columbus, is in camp on a tryout agreement and has made a solid bid for a contract. Fraser, who turns 25 on Thursday, will be pushed for ice time by the trio of prospects.

Goaltenders

Set for Lineup (2 of 2 available spots): Martin Brodeur, Johan Hedberg

Notes: Keith Kinkaid and Jeff Frazee are still in camp, but even they could tell you the Devils are Brodeur’s team and Hedberg will be the backup.

For Lundqvist, a Summer of Joy and Sorrow

For Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist it was a busy summer, highlighted by his marriage in his hometown, Gothenburg, Sweden. But it was also a sad summer, marked by the death by overdose of his Rangers teammate Derek Boogaard, the apparent suicides of two other N.H.L. enforcers and the plane crash in Russia that killed the players and coaches of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Last week in a conversation with Jeff Z. Klein of The Times and Jeff Blair of The Globe and Mail, Lundqvist talked about his career, his hopes for the Rangers, and the shock of a sobering off season.

Henk, after the Rangers were eliminated in the first round last season you said that you felt your chance to win a Stanley Cup had become limited.

Yes, you do start to realize that your time is limited. I try to enjoy it at the same time — I realize I’m very lucky to be playing, and to be here in New York. But I realize, “O.K., I don’t have that many chances.” When you’re young you don’t think about your future. As you get older you start to realize you have to make the best of it. I was real disappointed last year. I was excited to be in the playoffs, but then it felt like we could have done better, starting with me. You always feel like you can play better.

So this summer I was anxious to see what’s going on. We had a lot of guys to sign. So it was big to see that we got most of the guys back, and then we signed Brad Richards. That was very exciting to see. I’m very excited about this year. There are a lot of things — the Europe trip, the Winter Classic, HBO, the home arena is a little different now too — a lot of things going on.

You mention the HBO series the Rangers will be on leading up to Winter Classic game vs. Philadelphia. Did you watch the HBO series last year with Pittsburgh and Washington?

I watched a few episodes last year. I thought they did a pretty good job. I’m in the games, so I know what’s going on, but for a guy that hadn’t really paid attention to the game or hadn’t known what’s going on, I think it’d be interesting to see how things work.

I hope we handle it well, but I don’t know how much they’re going to be in our face. Mentally you just have to prepare for it, to be able to block it out. Have fun with it off the ice, see it as a great experience and a fun thing. But when it comes to practice and games, the focus needs to be there.

Do you think Torts will save a few choice rants for the HBO cameras?

(Laughs) It’s going to be exciting to see how things play out. But like I said, it’ll be a great experience to have them around.

The plane crash in Yaroslavl — you knew Lokomotiv’s Swedish goalie, no?

Yes, I knew Stefan Liv. It’s crazy — I can’t believe that it happened. I played with Stefan for a lot of years on the national team. We had a good relationship. I saw him this summer in Gothenburg. Just a great, great guy. I also knew Karel Rachunek — he was here with the Rangers. Those two guys.

Someone asked me if it felt weird, flying. When you’re in there you can’t really control anything — you’re in someone else’s hands. You just have to accept it. I’m usually pretty comfortable flying. You always think this will never happen to you, but when it does happen, or to someone close to you, it makes you think.

Have there been flights where you’ve been worried?

I’m not going to lie. I played with the junior national team in Russia probably 10 years ago or so, and the plane maybe wasn’t what I was used to. The seats were just folding like this (gestures to indicate a seat flopping back and forth). They didn’t really care if we had seat belts. It was just a really different style of flying. But I heard they have great pilots in Russia. You just never really know about security or safety.

Because we fly so much, you always have a couple of incidents here or there. The Rangers a couple of years ago, we came in two or three times and couldn’t land. It felt like we touched the first two times, but I guess it was just the air bumping the plane — we were really close. I guess we got the wrong information from the tower because we were coming in from the wrong side and had too much side wind. The third time it was, “O.K., now we’ve got the right information,” and we came in from the other side. That was a little scary. You just have to deal with it. I’m usually relaxed, but if something happens there’s really not much you can do, unfortunately.

Where were you last May when you heard about Derek Boogaard?

Actually I was in the British Virgin Islands, and my girlfriend at the time, now my wife, got a text message saying he passed away. You get just a bad feeling in your stomach for hours, for days. It’s just a weird feeling. It’s hard to understand.

Did it come as a complete surprise to you?

Yeah, absolutely. It was a shock, definitely. Really sad, the way it happened.

You knew he was in substance abuse program and dealing with this?

Well, I knew he was in L.A. for a little bit. But he was just, you know, always when you saw him he was always such a nice person, and you felt like he was doing great. Then I didn’t see him for a couple months later in the season, he was gone. Then the season ended, and you think, ‘O.K., I’ll see him next season, and let’s start over after the concussion and have a great year.’

And then that happens, and it was shocking. It took me a couple days to realize it really happened. When someone passes away who’s close to you, it takes a while before you really realize he’s gone.

With Derek’s death and the deaths of Rick Rypien and Wade Belak this summer, will guys will look differently at enforcers now, maybe worry about them more?

Maybe it’ll be that guys make sure everybody’s feeling great, that if you see anything that doesn’t feel right with a guy, you’ll approach him. Doesn’t matter if you’re the goalie or the forward or the fighter or whatever, you just want to make sure that everyone’s having a great time. We play a great game and have a great life, and we’re lucky to do that. So hopefully it brings something good out of this bad stuff that happened, that we try to look after each other even more. Even now we try to be tight and look after each other, but obviously we can’t do it 24/7.

How Free Agency Works in New York

As free agency fever gets set to overcome the N.H.L. on Friday, what better way to prepare than a Down Goes Brown/Bloge Salming video on one of the story lines waiting to play out: the Rangers heaping a bunch of money on free agent center Brad Richards.