Rangers president and general manager Glen Sather is expected to make a complete recovery from the prostate cancer surgery he underwent yesterday in a New York, according to individuals with knowledge of the situation.
Sather, 69, is expected to resume day-to-day operations within a relatively short time after being released from the hospital. Assistant general manager Jeff Gorton has assumed the day-to-day responsibilities generally handled by Sather.
The Rangers have declined comment regarding Sather’s health. The organization is believed to be adhering to the wishes of their GM, who prefers the matter be kept private.
* Given the vagaries of the Dep’t. of Player Safety, you never know, but Rick Nash could face supplementary discipline for his leaping forearm/elbow to the back of Tomas Kopecky’s head at 5:29 of the third period of the Rangers’ 3-1 Garden defeat to the Panthers last night. No penalty was called on the play, on which No. 61 came late and from the side at Kopecky after the Florida winger’s shot from the slot was stopped by Henrik Lundqvist.
* Before the game, coach John Tortorella expressed a combination of concern and disappointment over his power-play point men. After going a stretch with Marian Gaborik and Michael Del Zotto on the blue line, the Rangers went with Del Zotto and Dan Girardi last night.
“We still need someone to take over the power play and run it,” the coach said. “I don’t think that’s happened and I’m not sure it ever will.”
* Chris Kreider played 12:03 in his first game back from the AHL, failing to get a shot on net skating on the left with center Brian Boyle and right wing J.T. Miller. … Lundqvist’s start was his 26th in 20 games. … The Capitals visit the Garden on Sunday.