Christensen finds new home in Minnesota

Yesterday, Erik Christensen finally found a new home. The much maligned forward, who drew the ire of our sometimes arrogant fanbase was traded to the Wild along with a seventh round pick for Casey Wellman. While I can't tell you much about Wellman, the 24-year old from California has gotten into parts of three seasons with Minnesota, registering 13 points (4-9-13) over 41 career NHL games. In 14 contests this year, he had a career high seven points (2-5-7). It's any wonder if he'll stay up or go down to help the Whale.

For Christensen, the likeable 28-year old moves onto his fifth organization where he'll try to boost the Wild's playoff chances. For all the justified criticism he's received, Christy does possess offensive capabilities that could benefit his new team, who currently sits eighth in the West with 57 points- three better than Dallas, Calgary and Colorado, who are all tied with 54. Minnesota just might be a good fit for a guy who can contribute on the power play and is money in the shootout. Given the Wild's similar defensive posture with goalie tandem Nik Backstrom and Josh Harding, adding another offensive player could only help.

If it's true Christensen was never going to see the light of day on our first place team due to John Tortorella souring on him due to the physical nature of the roster, a scenery change could only benefit him. After putting up 27 points (11-16-27) over 63 contests in '10-11, he was 1-4-5 in 20 this season. With rookie Carl Hagelin passing him along with John Mitchell and Mike Rupp, he became expendable. The thing I always admired about Christy was his honesty about his struggle to find consistency. For a guy so talented who could score from an impossible angle as he did occasionally like versus Washington last Spring, it was sad to see how little confidence he had. But you can tell how much he cares. So, when people dump on him on the way out, it rubs me the wrong way.

Given our powerless play epidemic, you can't convince me that he couldn't have been reinserted to provide a spark. Last year, seven of his points came on the man-advantage, including four power play goals. One more than Brad Richards has in his first season on Broadway. Ironically, Christy's only goal was a PPG in a home win over Montreal, in which he also netted an assist. Four of his five points came over a three-game stretch in November. Unfortunately, what followed was one helper over the last 10 of his Ranger career.

Somewhat astonishingly, Christensen is in his seventh year having already played for the Pens, Thrashers, Ducks and Blueshirts. His 156 points (62-94-156) over 358 games tell the story of an inconsistent player who has never been able to put it altogether. At 28, he gets another chance to prove his worth as a rental for the surprising Wild. Christensen is playing for a contract. Possibly even his NHL livelihood. If he can help get Minny in the playoffs, that would only be a plus. As someone who also took him to task in this space, I wish him well. Show 'em what you can do.

Forget latest home loss

They again saw their shadow last night on home ice, disappointing Garden Faithful, whose faith is being severely tested. Simply put, these Rangers can't win at MSG. Losers of all three games on what was supposed to be a homestand, the now freefalling club that puts out effort daily but lacks finish is on life support in eighth a point behind the Hurricanes and two up on Buffalo with Toronto lurking right behind. The Devils sit 10 back, believing they can win every game and could get even closer if the Blueshirts don't get a win in Ottawa tonight.

The Rangers have been a better club away from Broadway. Perhaps this is what they need. There's no time to think about the latest loss- 3-1 at the hands of Minnesota despite outshooting them 41-19. But instead of building on Sean Avery's first goal in a lifetime three minutes in, the Rangers made life harder on themselves by repeatedly misfiring on power plays. Yes, Jose Theodore made like Dominik Hasek, sprawling across to rob Ryan Callahan of a would be power play goal on the doorstep for a potential two-goal lead. By that point, it should've been obvious what would happen next.

Missed chances on one end usually come back to haunt you. Especially when you're not scoring and finding new ways to lose. Sure. The effort was there as it always is with this younger rebuilding team chalk full of home grown kids trying to get what last year's team couldn't. A berth into the playoffs. It's slipping away from their grips with other teams around them playing better hockey. Unless they find it tonight in Kanata, Ontario, the odds aren't good. Not with the Flyers next and then San Jose and Anaheim in the Pacific before coming home for the Islanders and Canadiens, who would like nothing better than to further damage their chances.

Erik Christensen, who helped set up Avery's goal for points in three straight, took a lazy offensive zone high-sticking minor that led to the tying goal. That's all it took to stem the tide. In a game Minnesota had no life in following a dreadful performance on Long Island the previous night, suddenly they were tied up with Kyle Brodziak tipping one home. It was enough to cast doubt. The Rangers didn't reply with a goal on Theodore, who looked more like the former Hart/Vezina winner from yesteryear with Montreal pre-lockout. And so instead, here came another first goal for someone with rookie Casey Wellman lighting the lamp with a neat deflection of a Brent Burns point blast. I'll bet that more players get their first against us than any other team in the league. Like clockwork.

Only down one, the Blueshirts got plenty of Bronx jeers after a disappointing second. They weren't coming back. Oh. They tried. Gave every ounce to find the equalizer before a putrid Dan Girardi turnover allowed Martin Havlat to find a wide open Pierre-Marc Bouchard in the slot for a gimme. Just like that, the Wild led 3-1 with 11:45 left. It didn't matter that there was still time as we've heard annoying shill Joe Micheletti do time and time again like a parrot. The game was over. Unless Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan score, there's just not enough. Especially with Marian Gaborik having a setback following a practice with headaches.

On a night Marc Staal returned looking fine, rookie Ryan McDonagh hit a rut in the ice and twisted his ankle. He's day-to-day. Just great with Mike Del Zotto out four to six weeks in what's amounted to a rotten sophomore year from Hell. That's how it's gone for these Blueshirts, who will die trying until there's no more time left in their season.

They must do it again tonight against the rebuilding Senators, who have nothing to gain other than team pride. They just beat the Flyers and won again over Atlanta. It won't be easy. The rest just aren't because that's how this league is. Let's see if the Rangers still remember how to win where they're more comfortable.