The Rangers gathered at Scotiabank Place Tuesday afternoon for a team meeting and video session followed by an optional on-ice practice in which many of the club's key players---like Henrik Lundqvist, Brad Richards, Dan Girardi, and Marian Gaborik---decided to bypass.
Artem Anisimov, who lockers next to Brian Boyle, reported that he was considering creating a boundary so that reporters would not spill over into his personal space when trying to interview the popular Boyle after every game and every practice of this series. Moments later Boyle entered the room and was swarmed, as if on cue, by the press as Anisimov shook his head while laughing in an "I told you so" moment.
Like Anisimov, most of the players were in relaxed good moods on the day between Game 3 and Game 4 of this best-of-seven series which the Rangers now lead 2-1. Several of the players---including Brandon Dubinsky, Michael Del Zotto, Marc Staal, and Girardi---took part in a spirited contest with a soccer ball in a nearby hallway before practice began, and Lundqvist was casually snacking on a sandwich while watching practice from the bench.
Despite jokingly telling reporters that "I'll answer your questions, but I have nothing to say", Brandon Dubinsky did seriously discuss being reunited with Ryan Callahan and Anisimov as a line combination for Game Three's 1-0 victory.
"I have played a lot with those guys," explained Dubinsky. "I think we did a good job of getting the puck in under the harshmarks and working it, but I think we can still do a better job of it. It's going to be important for us to do that against these guys, to help our team be successful. I think for Callahan and me, especially, that's the strength of our game, and we have to make sure we do that consistently."
A day after rookie Chris Kreider made his NHL debut, several Rangers were full of praise for how he handled himself in such a difficult situatio nand atmosphere.
"He has such a high maturity level, which I think made this step a little easier for him," Derek Stepan said of Kreider, who played more than 11 minutes in Game 3. "It's definitely a process and something a little different he has to go through compared to most guys, but he really handled it well."
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