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head coach: John Muckler

roster: C - Wayne Gretzky, Pat LaFontaine, Harry York, Marc Savard, P.J. Stock. LW - Adam Graves, Kevin Stevens, Bill Berg, Darren Langdon, Bob Errey, Tim Sweeney, Daniel Goneau. RW - Niklas Sundstrom, Alexei Kovalev, Todd Harvey, Johan Lindbom, Shane Churla. D - Brian Leetch, Ulf Samuelsson, Jeff Beukeboom, Bruce Driver, Doug Lidster, Alexander Karpovstev, Eric Cairns, Jeff Finley, Geoff Smith, Maxim Galanov. G - Mike Richter, Dan Cloutier.

injuries: Shane Churla, rw (knee surgery, out 'till Armageddon); Ryan VandenBususche, rw (arthroscopic knee surgery, three weeks); Alexander Karpovtsev, d (torn wrist ligament, out for the season); Pat LaFontaine, c (concussion symptoms, out for the season); Tim Sweeney, lw (chipped collarbone, out for the season); Todd Harvey, rw (arthroscopic knee surgery, most likely out for the season); Harry York, c (sprained shoulder, most likely out for the season).

transactions: Traded Brian Skrudland, c, Mike Keane, rw, and conditional draft pick to Dallas for Todd Harvey, rw, and Bob Errey, lw. Traded Mike Eastwood, c, to St. Louis for Harry York, c. Traded Jason Muzzatti, g, to San Jose for Rich Brennan, d. Traded Ryan VandenBussche, rw, to Chicago for Ryan Risidore, d. Recalled Johan Lindbom, rw, from Hartford(AHL). Recalled Daniel Goneau, lw, from Hartford. Recalled Marc Savard, c, from Hartford. Sent Vladimir Vorobiev, rw, back to Hartford.

standings:

Eastern Conference - Atlantic Division   
Team           GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA   
x-New Jersey   76  46  21   9   101  208  149  
x-Philadelphia 75  39  25  11    89  220  177  
Washington     75  36  28  11    83  202  189  
NY Rangers     77  23  36  18    64  186  217  
NY Islanders   74  26  38  10    62  194  209  
Florida        75  23  40  12    58  184  231  
Tampa Bay      75  17  49   9    43  144  241  
x - Clinched playoff spot

game results:

3/25 Ottawa         L 3-2
3/26 at Carolina    L 4-1
3/28 at Pittsburgh  T 2-2
3/30 Tampa Bay      L 3-1
4/01 Boston         L 4-2
4/04 at Islanders   L 3-0
4/05 at Chicago     W 2-1 OT

team news:

by Alex Frias, NY Rangers Correspondent

La-La-La-Out: Results of a number of tests conducted by Chicago neurologist Jim Kelley revealed that Pat LaFontaine sustained a Grade 2 concussion when he collided with then teammate Mike Keane during a game against Ottawa on March 16.

Kelly said in a statement LaFontaine "is not cleared to play until he's reevaluated, in approximately one month's time."

"I had the passion and drive to want to come back, but when you do go through something like this, it definitely sets you back," LaFontaine said. "It's a decision that takes patience and time, and something you don't rush. I would have thought I wasn't going to play at this point last year. It's something you take seriously. You listen to the doctors and want to do the right thing. Right now, I guess I'm trying not to look too far ahead, I'm just trying to deal with what's happening."

While LaFontaine's headaches have subsided, LaFontaine is fatigued and has not been able to exercise since the incident. The doctors have told him to rest and gradually to work his way up to a mild program of physical activity gauged by how he feels. The Rangers' second leading scorer, LaFontaine had 23 goals and 39 assists in 67 games after sitting out most the previous season after suffering the fifth and most severe concussion that threatened his career.

Trading Post: Heading into the March 24 trading deadline, GM Neil Smith's objective was to get rid of some dead weight and start the restoration project. And I got to give it to him, he did a pretty good job. He trimmed 5.6 years and $3.2 million (based on this year's salaries). The savings next season will be about $2 million, depending on what they pay Group II free agent Todd Harvey.

Here's a rundown of Trader Neil's deadline deals:

Rangers sent to Dallas Stars: C Brian Skrudland - age 34; RW Mike Keane - age 31; conditional draft pick.

Rangers got from Dallas Stars: RW Todd Harvey - age 23, LW - Bob Errey - age 33.

Analysis: Potential to be a steal. Skrudland and Keane weren't doing much good and weren't part of the restoration plans in the Garden. Harvey is a versatile, gritty winger who knows how to open that can of whoop ass, and who has the potential to be an Adam Graves-type player, but has yet to show that same offensive prowess. Rangers hope that with more ice time (he was getting 8-9 minutes in Dallas), he'll develop his offensive game.

Rangers sent to St. Louis Blues: C Mike Eastwood - age 30.

Rangers got from Dallas Stars: C Harry York - age 23.

Analysis: Signed by then-St. Louis GM/coach Mike Keenan in 1996, the former roller hockey player thrives on hard-nosed work. And at 23, York is a much better third/fourth-line option than Eastwood.

In other minor deals:

Rangers goaltending bust Jason Muzzatti was sent to San Jose for 6-2, 200-pound defensemen Rich Brennan. And tough guy Ryan VandenBussche was given a ticket to Chicago for 21-year-old 6-4, 195-pound defensemen Ryan Risidore.

"We're all ready to see some changes. I think that was very clear from the results this year," Rangers president and general manger Neil Smith said. "We made changes that didn't touch the core of the team, the favorites of the team, meaning the Kovalevs, the Wayne Gretzkys and obviously Brian Leetch and Mike Richter and Adam Graves and [Niklas] Sundstrom."

'I said get out a da' way dea boy!': With the season all but done, the Rangers have opened the floodgates to their Hartford club with Daniel Goneau, Marc Savard, and Johan Lindbom all getting called up and receiving major ice time. John Muckler has been pleased with the effort of his rookies, but it appears that feisty P.J. Stock has been the only Ranger youngster to consistently play with the needed enthusiasm.

"The guys from Hartford; we're all friends. We're looking at this as mathematically we're fighting for a playoff spot, but it's also a golden opportunity for us to fight for a position for next year," Stock said. "We're not only competing against each other, we're competing against everybody in the room. You always want to be the best player on the ice. You want to be better than your peers and better than your opponent."

With all the recent injuries, the latest lines have been: Niklas Sundstrom-Wayne Gretzky-Alexei Kovalev; Kevin Stevens-Marc Savard-Daniel Goneau; Johan Lindbom-Adam Graves-Bill Berg; Darren Langdon-P.J. Stock-Bob Errey.

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