Sport-scan daily brief

Vigneault said he intends to start Callahan on the third line, in “not as much of an offensive role” as a top-six slot, to let the captain play his way into game shape.

“He missed time, even in the summer, because he had to rest and recover,” Boyle said. “But knowing Cally, he’s going to come out and try to run through a wall. He looks great. He’s been working his butt off.”

Friday, so were the Rangers. Vigneault drilled his club specifically on their shortcomings in Thursday’s disappointing defeat to the Coyotes: defensive coverage, forward backchecking and support, forechecking, shots on net, traffic in front, four-on-four situations, and defensive draws.

“This was a tough practice,” Boyle said. “But that’s good. We practice like this, guys are in shape. We should be able to sustain up-tempo play for long periods of time.”

The practice’s defensive emphasis – combined with the six stitches on Ryan McDonagh’s chin from blocking a Radim Vrbata shot Thursday night – was a reminder that while Vigneault’s system is more open than that of former coach John Tortorella, it is not asking the Rangers to abandon any sense of responsibility in their own end.

“It’s part of my game, and it’s part of a lot of guys on our team’s games,” McDonagh said. “It’s not gonna change. It’s just not being mentioned a lot maybe by our staff or whatever, but still, it’s got to be part of our game. It’s going to save us from giving up goals, for sure.”

Prioritizing toughness, though, depends on the player. Though Vigneault approved of Rick Nash’s seventh-career fight Thursday night in defense of Derek Stepan “as far as (earning) team respect and team awareness,” the coach called for his power forward to speak more with his skill than his fists.

“I think it’s real good (he defended Stepan),” Vigneault said. “I need Rick, though, to play like Rick Nash. And he will. His work ethic and his attitude are real good. He’s trying hard, and he’s like the rest of our team. We’re gonna put it together.”

New York Daily News LOADED: 10.06.2013

719784 New York Rangers

Old defensive habits die hard for Rangers

By Larry Brooks

October 5, 2013 | 4:11pm

LOS ANGELES — There was Ryan McDonagh, taking a puck on the jaw before the three-minute mark of the first period of the first game. There was Brian Boyle, twice sliding in front of power-play blasts after losing his stick in the second period in Phoenix, and there were the Rangers blocking a total of 19 shots in their season-opening 4-1 defeat to the Coyotes Thursday night.

A total, by the way, that exceeded the team average of 16.1 blocked shots per match both last year and over the past three years, when that part of the game became inextricably linked with their identity and John Tortorella’s coaching philosophy.

“It’s not only part of my game but for all of our guys,” McDonagh, who had a team-high four blocks, said following Friday’s practice. “It’s kind of instinctive.

“That’s not going to change. Maybe it’s not going to be mentioned a lot by the staff, but it’s part of our game. It’s going to save us from giving up goals, for sure.”

The Rangers, who face the Kings on Monday, were given Saturday off by the coaching staff, which believes a day of rest would prove more beneficial than practice to the already travel-weary club. The team will get back to work on Sunday.

Coach Alain Vigneault’s Vancouver teams were not as zealous in blocking shots, averaging just under 12 last season and 12.5 blocks per over the past three years. But the coach believes that’s an integral part of the game, even if he does not broadcast that philosophy on a daily basis.

“Not one of the 30 teams in the NHL can play a game without defending extremely well,” Vigneault said, “and part of defending extremely well is obviously your one-on-one battles, stick on stick, but part of that is also blocking shots. Players have to get in lanes and have to be in those lanes, and if the puck hits you, it hits you.

“It’s the same thing on our penalty killing. You have to get in those lanes so the puck can’t get through. Right now I don’t think we’re consistently doing that enough, and that’s why the other teams are getting a little bit of momentum on the penalty killings we’ve had so far.”

In a move that was surprising and even abrupt, the Blueshirts on Saturday assigned J.T. Miller to the AHL Wolf Pack in anticipation of Ryan Callahan’s return to the lineup on Monday.

The second-year pro, who missed the first week of training camp with a hamstring issue, had a difficult time of it in Thursday’s opening 4-1 defeat in Phoenix while playing on a line with Dominic Moore and Derek Dorsett, but had plenty of company in that department.

Miller played 11:58, including 3:21 on the power play unit that featured Brad Richards, Rick Nash, Derek Stepan and Marc Staal. But with Miller’s spot on that unit soon to be assumed by Callahan, the coaching staff and management made the decision that the winger will be better served by getting major minutes in Hartford rather than being a scratch or fourth-liner with the Blueshirts.

Callahan is slated to replace Jesper Fast on the third line with Brian Boyle and Taylor Pyatt. Fast or Arron Asham will take Miller’s spot on the fourth line.

The abruptness of the move is surprising given Miller’s very strong finish to camp and the fact the demotion leaves the Blueshirts with just one spare forward with three games in four nights — Monday; Tuesday in San Jose; Thursday in Anaheim — on the California horizon.

Assistant coach Ulf Samuelsson has been engaging in a number of one-on-one conversations with defensemen on the ice during and after practice, as well as on the bench during games.

“System-wise, he’s not changing the game,” Michael Del Zotto told The Post. “But he’s very positive, very supportive and he’s great helping to build you up.

“Ulf understands that mistakes are going to happen. When they do, he pats you on the back and sends you back out there to do better.”

New York Post LOADED: 10.06.2013

719785 New York Rangers

Rangers’ Miller demoted to make room for ‘Fast’ rookie

By Larry Brooks

October 5, 2013 | 12:44pm

LOS ANGELES — Not so Fast about Jesper coming out of the Rangers’ lineup to accommodate Ryan Callahan’s expected return on Monday here against the Kings.

For rather than scratch the 21-year-old rookie, the Blueshirts have assigned 20-year-old winger J.T. Miller to the AHL Wolf Pack.

Miller, who played 26 games with the Rangers last year, had a difficult time of it in Thursday’s opening 4-1 defeat in Phoenix while playing on a line with Dominic Moore and Derek Dorsett.

He played 11:58, including 3:21 on the power play unit that featured Brad Richards, Rick Nash, Derek Stepan and Marc Staal. But with Miller’s power-play spot soon to be assumed by Callahan, the coaching staff and management made the decision that the second-year pro will be better served by getting major minutes in Hartford rather than being a scratch or fourth-liner with the Blueshirts.

Callahan is slated to replace Fast on the third line with Brian Boyle and Taylor Pyatt. Either Fast or veteran Arron Asham, a scratch on Thursday, will join the fourth line against the big, brawny Kings.

New York Post LOADED: 10.06.2013

719786 New York Rangers

NHL roundup: Islanders victimized by Blue Jackets' rally

Sunday, October 6, 2013

STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Cam Atkinson scored in the fourth round of a shootout, and Columbus rallied from two goals down in the third period to spoil the Islanders' home opener with a 3-2 win Saturday night at Nassau Coliseum.

The Islanders and goalie Evgeni Nabokov seemed to be in complete control before Mark Letestu and Nick Foligno scored 4:19 apart to get even at 2-2 after the Blue Jackets managed only 12 shots in the first two periods.

The Isles built their lead in the second on a power-play goal by Lubomir Visnovsky and an even-strength tally by Matt Moulson.

BRUINS 4, RED WINGS 1 (at Boston) — Brad Marchand scored the tiebreaking goal 36 seconds into the second, and Tuukka Rask made 25 saves, lifting Boston. Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara each scored power-play goals for the Bruins.

CANADIENS 4, FLYERS 1 (at Montreal) — Lars Eller scored his third goal in two games and Brendan Gallagher got his second to help Montreal beat Philadelphia.

Carey Price stopped 22 shots and Brian Gionta and Rene Bourque added goals for Montreal.

PENGUINS 4, SABRES 1 (at Pittsburgh) — Sidney Crosby and Chuck Kobasew each scored his second goal of the season and Marc-Andre Fleury was nearly perfect again, making 20 saves to lead Pittsburgh over Buffalo.

MAPLE LEAFS 5, SENATORS 4, SO (at Toronto) — Mason Raymond and Tyler Bozak scored shootout goals to give Toronto a victory over Ottawa.

Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier, outstanding in relief of James Reimer, pulled after allowing four goals on 21 shots, stopped Milan Michalek and Jason Spezza in the shootout.

STARS 2, CAPITALS 1 (at Dallas) — Alex Chiasson scored the tiebreaking goal at 12:07 of the second period and Dallas beat Washington, stopping a Capitals flurry on a power play as the game ended. Alex Ovechkin scored in the first period for Washington. Erik Cole tied it at 8:01 of the first.

LIGHTNING 3, BLACKHAWKS 2, SO (at Chicago) — Valtteri Filppula scored in the shootout and Tampa Bay rallied for a victory over Chicago. Ben Bishop made 37 saves in his first start for the season for Tampa Bay, and then denied each of Chicago's three shooters in the tiebreaker.

BLUES 7, PANTHERS 0 (at St. Louis) — Jaroslav Halak set a franchise record with his 17th shutout and Alex Steen scored on a penalty shot to lead the St. Louis past Florida. Panthers' Tim Thomas was pulled after the second, allowing five goals on 28 shots.

DUCKS 4, WILD 3, OT (at St. Paul, Minn.) — Mathieu Perreault scored at 4:55 of overtime to give Anaheim a victory over Minnesota, despite two goals by Zach Parise.

MILLER SENT DOWN: The Rangers on Saturday re-assigned left wing J.T. Miller, their first-round pick in 2011, to Hartford (AHL) with captain Ryan Callahan due back in the lineup Monday at Los Angeles. Miller, who had two goals and two assists in 26 games last season, played 3:21 of his 11:58 ice time in Thursday night's season-opening 4-1 loss at Phoenix on the power play, but Callahan will take his spot on the first unit.

Bergen Record LOADED: 10.06.2013

719787 New York Rangers

Rangers' Ryan Callahan expected to play Monday

Saturday, October 5, 2013

BY ANDREW GROSS

STAFF WRITER

Ryan Callahan’s absence from the Rangers’ lineup at the start of the season will not be a long one.

Coach Alain Vigneault told the media Friday in Los Angeles the plan is for the captain to be back in the Rangers’ lineup for their next game, Monday against the Kings. Callahan underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder on May 31 and was expected to miss four to five months. He was cleared for contact on Sept. 26 but sat out Thursday’s season-opening 4-1 loss at Phoenix.

"If it would have been up to him he would’ve played but this gives him almost an extra four days, including two days of contact in practice," Vigneault told the media. "He’s ready to go. He’s cleared to play."

Vigneault placed Callahan on Brian Boyle’s third line with Taylor Pyatt at Friday’s practice with rookie Jesper Fast appearing to be the odd man out of the lineup.

Bergen Record LOADED: 10.06.2013

719788 New York Rangers

Former Ranger Marian Gaborik has moved on, in more ways than one

Published: October 6, 2013 2:30 AM

By ARTHUR STAPLE arthur.staple@newsday.com

Marian Gaborik hasn't made it all the way back to Madison Square Garden just yet -- that comes on Dec. 12 -- but he is back in the Eastern Conference after the deadline trade from the Rangers to the Blue Jackets last April that ended his productive but tumultuous four-year run with the Rangers.

"I haven't really had a chance to think about it," Gaborik said of going back to the Garden after Columbus' 3-2 shootout win over the Islanders on Saturday night. "When the time comes, it's going to be a little different, a little special. But I don't really think about it now."

Gaborik and John Tortorella had an interesting relationship during their time with the Rangers. Gaborik scored 114 goals in 255 games, including a pair of 40-plus seasons, but his star status left him open to some of Tortorella's very public criticisms.

Then Gaborik was dealt -- and Tortorella was fired two months later.

"That was their decision to make some changes," Gaborik said. "A lot of teams made changes. I spent four years under him. As a team we had some success, some ups and downs. Everybody moves forward."

Now Gaborik is a star on a much more low-wattage team. Columbus missed the playoffs by a point last season in the Western Conference. Now in the familiar confines of the Eastern Conference -- he has 22 goals in 31 career games against the Islanders and had three solid chances turned aside by Evgeni Nabokov on Saturday night -- Gaborik knows things are very different now than during his time in New York.

"It's a young team, a good learning experience for us last year," he said. "This is a different year. It's going to be a process. We can't look at the big picture. We have to play the way we did last year, game at a time."

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 10.06.2013

719789 New York Rangers

Forward J.T. Miller sent down to AHL Hartford Wolf Pack

Originally published: October 5, 2013 6:37 PM

Updated: October 5, 2013 7:47 PM

By STEVE ZIPAY steve.zipay@newsday.com

LOS ANGELES - It may have been inevitable, but the timing was a little strange.

Forward J.T. Miller, 20, who made the Rangers' opening-night roster with Swedish rookie Jesper Fast, was assigned to AHL Hartford Saturday.

A Rangers spokesman said management wanted Miller to get more ice time with the Wolf Pack, which opened its regular season Saturday night. With captain Ryan Callahan (offseason shoulder surgery) returning for the second game of the regular season Monday night, Miller wouldn't have gotten as much ice time as he will get in Hartford.

Miller, who scored twice in three preseason games, played 11:58 Thursday against the Coyotes in the Rangers' season-opening 4-1 loss, including 3:21 on the power play, and had one shot on goal and two attempts blocked.

Callahan, a right wing who is expected to begin his comeback on the third line, will jump right into the power play and penalty kill. But the somewhat surprising move leaves the Rangers with only one spare forward for the next four games out West.

The move to send Miller down to the minors indicates that Fast, who was replaced by Callahan on a line with Brian Boyle and Taylor Pyatt during Friday's practice in El Segundo, Calif., will drop to the fourth line, centered by Dominic Moore. Derek Dorsett and Arron Asham are the other right wings available on that trio, but Fast also is a righty.

Miller, the 15th overall pick in the 2011 draft, played 26 games last season and was 2-2-4. He missed part of training camp with a sore hamstring but sealed a roster spot with a high-quality effort in Las Vegas against the Kings, whom the Rangers face in a game that counts Monday.

On Wednesday, coach Alain Vigneault said of Miller: "I see potential in that young man. Real solid skill set. Like any other young player, he needs to get better every day and have the right attitude to push him to become the best player he can be. There is upside there, and it's our job as a staff and his job as a player to work on him being the best he can be."

Notes & quotes: When Rick Nash dropped the gloves with Martin Hanzal after the Phoenix forward crushed Derek Stepan along the boards late in Thursday's game, eyebrows were raised because the power forward is known more for scoring than scraps. He had three fighting majors with Columbus in 2010, including a preseason one with Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin, and in 2007, he went toe-to-toe with Chicago's Jim Vandermeer. "That's something that means a lot to me," said Stepan, who thought Hanzal's hit was clean. "[Nash has] been around the league a lot longer than I have and he felt it was necessary. I'm grateful for it." But Vigneault prefers a different Nash. "As far as team respect and team awareness, I think it's real good. I need Rick, though, to play like Rick Nash, and he will. His work ethic and his attitude are real good. He's like the rest of our team; we've got to put it together."

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 10.06.2013

719790 New York Rangers

With Ryan Callahan ready to return, Rangers assign J.T. Miller to Hartford

05 October 2013, 12:09 pm by Carp in Hockey New York Rangers NHL Rangers Report - 138 Comments

NEW YORK, October 5, 2013 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has assigned forward J.T. Miller to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Miller, 20, registered one shot on goal, was credited with one hit and one blocked shot, and logged 11:58 of ice time in the Rangers’ season opener on Thursday at Phoenix. He has recorded two goals and two assists in 27 career regular season games with the Rangers. Last season, Miller made his NHL debut on February 5 at New Jersey, and became the first Ranger to post a multi-goal game as a teenager since 1992 with a two-goal performance in his second NHL appearance on February 7 against the NY Islanders.

The 6-1, 205-pounder returns to Hartford where he registered eight goals and 15 assists for 23 points, along with 29 penalty minutes in 42 games last season. Miller ranked third among team rookies in goals and assists, and tied for fourth in points. He was selected to represent the Eastern Conference at the 2013 AHL All-Star Game on January 28.

The East Palestine, Ohio native was originally selected by the Rangers as a first round choice, 15th overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Rockland Journal News: LOADED: 10.06.2013

719791 Ottawa Senators

MacArthur rips former coach Carlyle

Bobby Ryan was slightly more subtle about it.

by Wayne Scanlan

on October 5, 2013

TORONTO — Bobby Ryan was slightly more subtle about it.

But he and Clarke MacArthur agree on one thing – they wouldn’t say hello to their former head coach, Randy Carlyle, if they passed him in the hallway.

“No,” MacArthur said from the visitors dressing room at the Air Canada Centre Saturday. “I’m going to go with no on that one.”

MacArthur, of course, played for Carlyle with the Maple Leafs last season, while Ryan had the hardline coach in Anaheim, where Carlyle directed his Ducks team to a 2007 Stanley Cup win over the Ottawa Senators. Both know the feeling of being benched, and made a healthy scratch.

Ryan and MacArthur are both Senators now, and surely have swapped some interesting stories about playing for no-nonsense Randy. Ryan and MacArthur were both facing their former coach for the first time in a regular season game as the Battle of Ontario, 2013 version, resumed Saturday.

“I didn’t have a relationship with him, and not many guys do,” MacArthur said, of Carlyle.

“He runs the show there, and everyone knows that, and that’s the way it is,” MacArthur added. “It’s worked for him in the past, he’s got a Cup from that, but at the same time there’s other ways to do things, too.”

A seven-year pro, MacArthur has been with four NHL clubs – Buffalo, Atlanta, Toronto and now Ottawa – but has never had a tougher coach than Carlyle, “not to that extent,” MacArthur says.

Carlyle might take pride in administering tough love, but there isn’t a lot of player love going back his way.

“Some guys are good with it. Some guys are good with the criticism, but they don’t want to hear it every single shift they come off the ice,” MacArthur says. “You’re old enough to know ‘I made a mistake,’ you don’t need to hear it every five seconds.”

“It weighs differently on different people, it was just — some long days.”

Nobody called out Carlyle more than former Leaf Mikhail Grabovski, on his way out the door this summer after five seasons in Toronto.

“I play in the [expletive] Russian KHL, I make lots of [expletive] points and what’s going to happen? He make me [expletive] play on the fourth line and he put me in the playoffs on the fourth line and third line again,” Grabovski told TSN.ca. “Yeah, I don’t score goals. I need to work more about that. I know that. But if you feel support from your coach [you'll find success]. I don’t feel any support from this [expletive] idiot.”

“He said it all right there,” MacArthur says. “He certainly didn’t have a tight lip about it. That was something to see. He was frustrated. He was a guy who had 30 goals and two years of 55 or whatever points (58 and 51) and Randy came in, it just didn’t work out, he turned him into a checker.

“Look at him now, four points in his first game, three goals. Who was right there? I know who’s right.”

After two games with the Washington Capitals, Grabovski has five points.

MacArthur knew he was gone from the Leafs long before his final game in Toronto. The stylish winger was livid over being made a healthy scratch for Games 2 and 3 of the Eastern Quarterfinal playoff series against the Boston Bruins last spring. MacArthur still managed to score two goals and an assist in the series.

“It was tough the way it ended,” he says. “Getting scratched in the playoffs, that was it for me. I came back and scored some goals, did what I could for the team, but I was done here after that. The game of hockey – I wasn’t excited coming in any more. It was time to move on.”

Signing with divisional-rival Ottawa wasn’t based on a revenge motive, MacArthur says. But no one would be happier to score against the Leafs.

Say hello, to a revamped Battle of Ontario.

Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 10.06.2013

719792 Ottawa Senators

Leafs charge back for shootout win over Sens

Ah, the Battle of Ontario.

by Wayne Scanlan

on October 5, 2013

TORONTO – Ah, the Battle of Ontario.

Each chapter with its own twists and turns.

And someone going home feeling ill. This time it was the Senators after blowing a 4-2 lead and falling in the shootout, 5-4 to the Leafs.

Tyler Bozak and Mason Raymond, on a controversial spin move, scored for Toronto while Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek missed.

The shootout loss nevertheless took the shine off James Reimer’s magic against the Senators, as he was knocked out of the net. Ottawa fell to 1-0-1 and the Leafs improved to 3-0.

The Leafs finally defeated Ottawa in a home opener, in six tries. Prior to Saturday’s loss, the Leafs had a record of 0-3-0-2 in five home openers with the Senators as special guests. They two haven’t met in an ACC opener since Oct. 3, 2007, when the Senators won 4-3 in overtime.

The Leafs won three of four meetings last season but in the two previous seasons combined, the clubs each won six and lost six. The Senators carried a 4-3 lead into the third period but a goal by James Van Riemsdyk tied in the third period

“The pressure is on us,” Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle had said. “The pressure is on the home team to put on a show.”

Oddly enough, Carlyle made his Leafs debut at a home opener 37 years ago to the day, at Maple Leaf Gardens. He remembers being a wide-eyed kid from tiny Azilda, On., neary Sudbury, taking it all in. Now, here he was presiding over three rookies, Morgan Rielly, Jamie Devane and Spencer Abbot making their NHL debut in a Toronto opener. (Winger Carter Ashton was expected to play but was a late scratch in favour of tough guy Devane).