NYR PRACTICE NOTES 4/15: Lundqvist, Girardi, Lines

NYR PRACTICE NOTES 4/15:
Henrik Lundqvist was first player on ice and working in the starter's net
Magnus Hellberg on the Rangers' bench without equipment on.
Lundqvist and Antti Raanta working with goalie coach Benoit Allaire, who, as noted, was very sharp distributing pucks earlier.

No Dan Girardi or Ryan McDonagh on ice for practice.
Lines and D-Pairings at practice, AV tweaks top 2 lines:
Kreider-Stepan-Zuccarello Miller-Brassard-Nash EStaal-Hayes-Fast Glass-Moore-Stalberg MStaal-Klein Yandle-McIlrath Skjei-Boyle

NY Rangers Update:

2:30 PM

AV says that Henrik Lundqvist is game time decision tomorrow team wants to see how he reacts to strain of practice.and that Dan Girardi is hurt, will not play because of injury. Asked whether it's upper or lower, AV says, "It's the whole thing."

AV says Rangers have six healthy d-men now, doesn't commit to McIlrath, might recall somebody from Hartford (AHL) in case "somebody wakes up with a boo-boo." AV not necessarily saying who his six d-men are tomorrow. Raphael Diaz is now healthy and played last game for Hartford. He's a righty. McIlrath says he’s “hungry” to play. But no word yet whether he’s in.

AV says he needs more from Stepan and Brassard lines: "We need our top end players to play better. It's time to make a difference."

Vigneault reminds in French that Ranger's goal since start of season has been the Stanley Cup but right now must focus only on Pens.

Henrik Lundqvist said No damage to the eye, just swelling that made him uncomfortable for a bit. Says eyesight was blurry and couldn't focus after hit by stick in Game 1, immediately after being hit, he had about "20, 30 seconds where i had some really bad thoughts going through my head on what would happen to my eye." He was feeling better by the time he went to bed on Wednesday night. Lundqvist has a little black and blue over slightly swollen top of right eye. Lundqvist looked quick and normal in practice.