Avery Out... Along with Two Other Rangers

After another Ranger loss on Tuesday night at the Garden, I was too depressed to actually sit down and write. However, today is a new day and another game at the Garden, means I am desperately looking for a Ranger win that will keep my hopes and dreams alive at least one game longer. This will be a daunting task for the Rangers, after losing three key players for game four tonight. Blair Betts will be out with a possible fracture in his left cheek bone along with Chris Drury who injured his ribs in game three and cannot even lift his arms. Betts and Drury have been pivotal on the penalty kill for the Rangers, and Drury has been a silent leader for the team, the entire year. Sean Avery will also be out of the lineup tonight against Pittsburgh after suffering an injury to his spleen. Avery was hurt in the first period of game three, but continued to play through increasing pain in his abdomen picking up an assist in the second period. Avery was rushed to the hospital after the game in which it was originally printed that he went into cardiac arrest. This was a misprint by the media, Avery does however have a lacerated spleen and his CAT-Scan prognosis showed that he will make a full recovery during the off season. The entire Ranger community, myself included, wishes Avery the best of luck to a full recovery and hope to see him reeking havoc on opponents for the Blueshirts again next year. Thank you Avery for all you have done for New York, you will always be loved here. That being said the Rangers will need a lot of help from the hockey Gods if they are going to make this comeback against the powerhouse of Pittsburgh. Three AHL players practiced with the team on Wednesday, only one of which is expected to make an appearance tonight at the Garden. Assistant Captain Brendan Shanahan stated, "At a time like this, losing the players that we lost and being down 3-0, I think you can develop sort of an 'everyone's counted us out' mentality. I think it's really important as a team to come out and respond and just win one game, just think about winning just one game'' after practice on Wednesday. He is trying to keep the team motivated and optimistic. This is really the only thing that you can do at the moment, the future looks grim, but you got to have faith and understand crazier things have happened. Let’s go Rangers.

****Note: As Game Four Started, Chris Drury Made A Game Time Decision To Play