NY Rangers (32-24-8) at NY Islanders (20-36-7), 7:00 pm EST
UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Rangers underwent
significant changes during their four-day layoff.
The Rangers hope those moves will pay off when they visit the
rival New York Islanders on Thursday.
Coming off their most impressive offensive performance of the
season, the Rangers claimed controversial left wing Sean Avery
off waivers a day before acquiring right wing Nik Antropov and
defenseman Derek Morris in separate deals before Wednesday's
trade deadline.
The Rangers snared Antropov, who has recorded 21 goals and 25
assists this season, from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a
second-round and conditional pick. Morris came over from the
Phoenix Coyotes for defenseman Dmitri Kalinin and left wings
Petr Prucha and Nigel Dawes.
The moves were made after the Rangers gave coach John Tortorella
his first win with the franchise on Saturday. Scott Gomez
scored a goal and set up two others as the club cruised to a 6-1
victory over the Colorado Avalanche.
The Islanders also made a notable move before the deadline,
sending captain Bill Guerin to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Guerin
had missed the Islanders' previous two games - both wins -
because of the impending trade.