PHILADELPHIA – The rusted Dan Blackburn impressively stopped Keith Tkachuk, then Al MacInnis down the stretch of a 4-4 tie in St. Louis Thursday night and now it is time for the Rangers to exercise another inert item: their win total, which has been stuck on 21 for six games, hardly advertising them as coming on strong despite three spirited efforts since Glen Sather took over the bench.
So, logic suggests that Blackburn, shaky at the beginning of his first start since January 9 but able to make the third-period saves that Mike Dunham in the two previous games had not, will start this afternoon against the Flyers, especially since Dunham didn’t extend his tweaked groin in yesterday morning’s short practice in St. Louis.
“We’ll see how Mike is,” said Sather, who then was forced by a follow-up question to add Dunham’s health is not the only factor, an indication Blackburn will be given a chance to try to start the Rangers onto a hot streak that had better come soon. Otherwise, their bid to make up points on three teams will remain cosmetic.
Still, there are 25 contests remaining, so the watch for the cavalry continues. Vladimir Malakhov, out two games with back spasms, may play today and Brian Leetch and Pavel Bure have skated hard three days in a row, a sign of progress by both. And Bure, who has been out since December 6 because of knee surgery, said after yesterday’s practice he felt he had broken through a barrier.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “Before I was skating like I was limping so much, I felt like a cripple out there.”
While Bure ruled out playing this afternoon, a return within a week is conceivable. “It doesn’t have to be 100 percent, but I will know when I get to the point that I can help the team and not be an anchor,” he said. “If I don’t come back soon, I will be ready for the Tour de France, riding the bike so much.”
That’s a little rehab humor there for a team that does seem to be feeling a little better about itself. Sather is leaning harder on his best players, both in usage and verbiage. Bryan Trottier pointed out mistakes, but not with the same directness and clout as Sather. “I think everyone is a little more scared because Glen is behind the bench,” said Tom Poti.
And more directed. The coach yesterday told Darius Kasparaitis, whose hurried pass hit Boris Mironov’s skate as he came on the ice and led to the Blues’ fourth goal, that the defenseman should have gone behind the net and waited for the change to be completed.
“I have been trying to be fair and have them concentrate on the small details,” said Sather.