Drury Cleared by Doctors to Begin Returning Process, Rangers Work on PP

Good News coming out of the Rangers practice today, as Andrew Gross of Ranger Rants reports that Captain Chris Drury (concussion) was cleared to begin the returning process by doctors yesterday during his afternoon evaluation, and began off-ice workouts today for the first time since being sent home on November 11 by coach Tortorella. Chris attended a team meeting this morning as well, which is also a first since being concussed earlier in the month.

"It's real good news," Tortorella said.

Although there is yet to be a date set for when exactly Drury will return, if he can endure these off-ice workouts an eventually progress to the ice without showing any symptoms or signs of a relapse, then it should not be too long until the Captain is back in the lineup.

Gross also tweeted earlier that injured forward Brandon Dubinsky (broken hand) is no longer wearing a cast, just a brace. Yet another positive sign on the injury front for the Blueshirts.

Today's order of events in practice were a bit different than usual, which may of been the reason why the players were instructed to leave the ice when Torts said so on Thursday. It began with just half of the ice being occupied, and all of the players involved in working on the powerplay. The defensemen played with upside-down sticks to make it harder for them to make defensive players, giving the offense a little more room to work. Below are the two units that were used in the drills.

PP Unit 1:

Callahan - Prospal - Gaborik
Del Zotto - Kotalik

PP Unit 2:

Parenteau - Higgins - Avery
Staal - Gilroy/Redden - Rozsival

Finally, on the regular lines, Enver Lisin was moved to the fourth line in place of Donald Brashear, who was upgraded to the third line with Higgins and Callahan. I must say that this one baffles me. Brashear has not looked good at all, while Lisin has been skating well but has been getting few chances. There is no reason why Brashear should be on any line other than the fourth. Come to think of it, he should be lucky if he is even in the lineup, and now Torts is placing him on the top nine forwards? Oh boy.....
(Image courtesy of AP Photo)