If it is any consolation to Chris Drury, the blind-side hit he suffered from Curtis Glencross that will penalize the Calgary winger three games may not cost the Rangers’ captain that many.
After having accompanied the Rangers on a four-hour-plus flight home Sunday, Drury rode the stationary bike yesterday, signs so good coach John Tortorella would not rule out his top center playing Thursday night against the Thrashers at the Garden.
“I don’t think it’s out of the question, no,” said Tortorella. “He left before I got off the ice and I haven’t talked to the trainers about that yet but I think he had a good day today.
“Obviously Dru has to go through the process [for] a head injury. We’ll wait until Wednesday.”
Drury was concussed by Glencross in an open-ice hit during the first minute of Saturday night’s 3-1 loss to the Flames, an uncaring act that will both set him back him $18,652 in salary and bring criticism to NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell. However inconsistent his penalties have been, the perception of them has provided little deterrent to the headhunters.
Standard to NHL practice, the Rangers had no comment on the ruling, although earlier in the day, Tortorella said league discipline was warranted.
“I think there should be, yes,” said Tortorella, who also thinks that Saturday’s additional loss of Brandon Dubinsky for up to six weeks with a broken bone in his right hand, will challenge another Ranger to step up.
Following Drury’s fast disappearance, Vinny Prospal slid to center, where he remained after Dubinsky got hit with a Dion Phaneuf slapshot, among the best to avoid in the NHL. Brian Boyle centered the third line behind rookie Artem Anisimov.
There are short-term internal options. Sean Avery was a center in Los Angeles and, as Tortorella mentioned, Christopher Higgins spent time in Montreal’s middle.
“You know me, I bounce people around anyway,” Tortorella said. “You don’t need four centers.
“That fourth line can be different people. I can bounce people around on different lines. We have a couple extra forwards, [Donald Brashear] is getting better. I don’t expect any type of change with the personnel that is here right now.”
The coach only expects the personnel here now to score more. And good luck to him as his team has netted only 11 goals in its last six games, scoring more than one only twice.
To win under those circumstances, a team needs goaltending, which would make welcome the return of Henrik Lundqvist, who didn’t practice yesterday after missing the win in Edmonton and the loss in Calgary.
Tortorella indicated Lundqvist, who has an undisclosed problem in the upper right side of his leg, will play against Atlanta. Lundqvist indicated only that he might.
“Yeah, that’s my goal,” Lundqvist said. “Get a good practice in on Wednesday (Rangers are off today). We’re trying to get it 100 percent. It’s not perfect.”
Entirely like hockey players’ sense of restraint.