Torts Not Using Call-Ups, Christensen In

Remember this morning when I said we are usually dissatisfied when decisions are left to be made by Rangers head coach John Tortorella? Well, here is a near perfect example why. Andrew Gross of Ranger Rants reports that John Tortorella refuses to recall any help from the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) with Prospal's absence due to knee surgery, and will go with what he has for the time being. This means forward Erik Christensen, who has been a healthy scratch for the past week, will be inserted into the lineup, and will possibly even see some powerplay time according to the coach.

Christopher Higgins will be moved up to play on the first line with Brandon Dubinsky at center and Marian Gaborik at the opposite wing. Ales Kotalik will also jump back into the top nine after doing fourth line duty ever since being sidelined for two straight games. Expect Drury to be centering Avery and Callahan with Anisimov centering Kotalik and Lisin, or vice versa.

First off, I said earlier today that I did not want to see Higgins playing with Gaborik and Dubinsky. The guy simply cannot put the puck in the net this season and will not contribute much to that line. If Tortorella cannot see this then he should not be a coach in the National Hockey League. Higgins will last there for maybe a game if they win, but once the Blueshirts lose a single game, Higgy will be off that line unless he magically begins scoring. It is now becoming a pattern; Tortorella tries the same thing over again, it doesn't work, so he punishes that player for lack of production. Maybe it is not the players that are the big problem here.

Anyway, I also think that if Christensen will be entered into the lineup, he should at least be given a good look, not just three or four shifts a game. We do not know what this guy brings to the table because we barely have seen him play since he was picked up by GM Glen Sather about a month ago. And then how ridiculous will it look if the guy gets eight minutes of ice time at even strength, but then is plugged into the powerplay unit like Torts said? That is absurd, plain and simple.

Gross also mentioned that Captain Chris Drury missed today's practice for personal reasons.
(Image courtesy of AP Photo)