Dubinsky Hits the Ice, More from Practice

Andrew Gross of Ranger Rants has reported that injured forward Brandon Dubinsky skated earlier today with assistant coach Mike Sullivan for the first time since suffering a broken hand on November 7th in Calgary. Dubinsky and Wade Redden had the ice to themselves before the rest of the team practiced this morning.

“For a while, we didn’t see the healing,” Tortorella said. “There’s healing in there now. I don’t think we’re at risk to do any damage if he hits it. Of course, we don’t want him falling. Also, we need to get him on the ice. He’s been off for a while. So when we started seeing the healing, we’re going to slowly get him on just to get his skating legs.”

Dubinsky is not expected to be in the lineup anytime soon, but he is getting closer. Based on Tortorella's post practice presser it sounds as if the healing process is beginning to pick up and occur a bit more rapidly than first expected. As for Redden, he will be sidelined for tomorrow's contest in Buffalo, as well as Sunday's game against the Detroit Red Wings.

In place of Redden will be Hartford defensemen Ilkka Heikinen. As I mentioned yesterday, the Blueshirts recalled the Finnish defensemen late in the afternoon and had to place Brandon Dubinsky on long-term injured reserve in order to fit Heikkinen under the salary cap. Ilkka will be paired with rookie blue-liner Matt Gilroy for the time being.

Also at practice was goaltender Chad Johnson. However, Johnson will not be in goal for either of this weekend's tilts as Henrik Lundqvist will get the start in both. Head coach John Tortorella said that there is no plan to play Johnson at the moment--he is simply here to fill Valiquette's spot in the lineup, I assuming until a replacement is required.

The Lines from Practice:

Prospal - Anisimov - Gaborik
Avery - Drury - Callahan
Higgins - Christensen - Kotalik
Lisin- Boyle - Parenteau/Voros

Staal - Rozsival
Del Zotto - Girardi
Heikkinen - Gilroy

(Image courtesy of AP Photo)