Rookie Mats Zuccarello took a break from Casino Night to thank Norwegian fans -- in his native language -- for following his NHL career so passionately online.

John Tortorella talked with Derek Stepan, Ryan McDonagh and Chris Kreider last summer, with the first two leaving college and turning pro en route to making key contributions for the Rangers this season. The persuasive Blueshirts coach still hopes to welcome in the last of that trio as early as next season. Kreider, the Rangers' first-round draft pick in 2009, returned to Boston College for his sophomore season and was named MVP of the Beanpot Tournament.

• Sunday's Recap: Rangers Roll Over Pens Share By Jim Cerny, newyorkrangers.com It’s easy to overlook now -- when he’s playing 20 minutes a night on the Rangers’ second defense pairing -- but j...

Chris Kreider, an ‘09 Rangers first-round draft pick (19th overall), won the MVP at the Beanpot Tournament in Boston, for Boston College last night. John Tortorella: “I didn’t see any of it. Sully (Mike Sullivan) came in and told me today and I wish that kid turned pro last year. And I hope he turns [...]

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... if you can call this live. The team had a two-session workout, the second half spent on the power play. Now it’s in a team meeting, so we’re awaiting John Tortorella. Could be a while. News? Well, Wojtek Wolski (ribcage) did not skate today, but expects to skate tomorrow. Brandon Dubinsky didn’t skate in [...]

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... if you can call this live. The team had a two-session workout, the second half spent on the power play. Now it’s in a team meeting, so we’re awaiting John Tortorella. Could be a while. News? Well, Wojtek Wolski (ribcage) did not skate today, but expects to skate tomorrow. Brandon Dubinsky didn’t skate in [...]

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The Rangers' GPS to the playoffs broke at the All-Star break. So by Sunday, skating against the Penguins, they were relieved to find hard signs of direction. Down 2-0 early, they didn't buckle. When, after cutting the lead to 5-3 in the third, with Pittsburgh having a four-minute power...

Imagine an entire NHL team perishing in an airplane crash on their way to the Stanley Cup Final. That is exactly what happened to the US Figure Skating Team on their way to the World Championships in Prague in 1961.

In memory of the United States World Figure Skating team that was wiped out in that horrific plane crash in Brussels, Belgium on Valentines Day 1961, US Figure Skating has produced a documentary film called “Rise”.

The premiere of the film is Thursday, February 17, at select local theatres.

http://www.fathomevents.com/sports/event/usfs_rise.aspx

The film highlights the state of figure skating in this country before and after the loss of our entire national team and coaches. Those who died weren’t in this sport for profit, only glory. At that time skating was an amateur sport. Figure skating was an arcane discipline of school figures and difficult testing. Free style skating and ice dancing were the icing on the cake. There were no costumes with plunging necklines and sequins. Those who excelled in the sport were more then likely bound for colleges and the professions. There was no “Stars on Ice”.

Figure skating came front and center into the living rooms of America when ABC Sports starting televising it during Wide World of Sports and the Winter Olympics. It took 7 years after the plane crash for Peggy Fleming to win gold in Grenoble. After gaining such a high profile, there was no looking back. Figure skating has become the hottest ticket at every Winter Olympics since then. The sport has at times been steeped in controversy, with scandals about skaters and judging.  But at the end of the day, it always comes down to who skates best on that day. Ask Sarah Hughes.

Hosting and narrating the film are some of the greatest that US Figure Skating has produced, Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Scott Hamilton, Brian Boitano and Michelle Kwan.

While I usually write about New York Ranger hockey on this blog, I feel compelled to share some history of the sport I love the most and practice several hours per week. I am first and always shall be a figure skater.

I dedicate this column in loving memory to my coach, Joseph Scherer.

... and so do I. If all goes well I’ll be at practice this morning and have a report later on. Maybe an update on Wolski’s ribcage, and an idea on what will happen with the third D-pair (barring a trade) since Eminger didn’t play in the third period Sunday. In the meantime, you probably [...]

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With Evgeni Malkin gone for the year and Sidney Crosby still out indefinitely, there is not much rubber burning in the nets of Penguins' opponents these days, only in the head of their owner. Yesterday, apparently unhappy Colin Campbell did not suspend every member of the Islanders for life after...