Rangers woes continue (Updated already)

Updated seconds after posting: This goes at the top because it is out of control. Marek Malik skated on the third line, yes the third line on offense with Parenteau and Hossa towards the end of practice. Shanahan is definately out. This just may be a game you want to record and play back a couple of times. Or maybe the complete opposite.

The Rangers haven't played a game since Saturday night, yet as the days pass, so do the bad fortunes. I need to use bullet form to fill you in on everything that is going on, so here we go.

- Brendan Shanahan did skate this morning, will try out the contusion on his knee in tonight's pregame warmups, but Tom Renney is leaning towards sitting him until Thursday to rest up.

- Martin Straka is out at least one week, possibly more. More will be known after he sees a doctor today to gauge his concussion.

- Sean Avery was slashed on December 30 against Montreal. Because of that slash, Avery has been placed on injured reserve. He played through the pain for the three game road trip, but it was too swollen to continue and a week off will supposedly solve that problem and then he will be good to go.

- Greg Moore was welcomed back to New York with a nice case of the flu. He did not skate this morning and may not play tonight.

- Pierre Parenteau has been recalled from Hartford. If Moore can skate tonight, the line of Parenteau, Moore and Nigel Dawes will be formed. This line has been together in Hartford, so we'll see what happens on the big stage. Chris Drury would move up to the wing with Scott Gomez and Jaromir Jagr.

So to recap; If Shanahan is out and Moore is in, the line combinations look like:

Drury - Gomez - Jagr
Prucha - Dubinsky - Hossa
Dawes - Moore - Parenteau
Orr - Betts - Hollweg

If Moore is out and Shanahan is in:

Dawes - Gomez - Jagr
Shanahan - Drury - Prucha
Parenteau - Dubinsky - Hossa
Orr - Betts - Hollweg

Shanahan and Moore in:

Dawes - Gomez - Jagr
Shanahan - Drury- Prucha
Moore - Dubinsky - Hossa
Orr- Betts - Hollweg

Shanahan and Moore out:

Dawes - Gomez - Jagr
Prucha - Drury - Hossa
Hollweg - Dubinsky - Parenteau
Orr - Betts - Strudwick

Marek Malik would be inserted back onto defense should Strudwick be forced to step in at forward.

No matter how you slice it, tonight's game is going to be a tough one. Kari Ramo is expected to be in net for Tampa Bay, and he has been much less than stellar since being called up to compete for a goaltending spot in Tampa.

I won't be around until just before game time, but I'll update around then if anything else breaks. These line combinations are in no way set in stone, and with six hours until puck drop, another call up may even happen. Tough time in Rangerland right now folks.