One short day after the Rangers parted ways with Jaromir Jagr, the 36-year-old wing signed a two-year deal with a Russian team. Jagr's deal with Avangard Omsk, part of the Continental Hockey League (KSL), is reportedly worth $7 million a year. The KHL starts its inaugural season later this year and will likely compete with the NHL for European and Russian talent.......

Back in 1997, the Rangers lost their captain when Mark Messier headed to the Pacific Northwest to play for the Canucks. On Thursday, they brought Vancouver's captain, Markus Naslund to New York with a two-year, $8 million deal. Thanks to the salary cap and other roster considerations, this move means Jaromir Jagr's New York career is over. Rangers general manager Glen Sather sounded like he had gotten tired of waiting for Jagr to decide what......

If Larry Brooks is right, the Rangers will let Jaromir Jagr enter free agency on July 1st and therefore risk losing their captain to another team once their exclusive negotiating rights expire. And, despite the backlash such a move would create, letting Jagr walk is a smart move for a franchise that is clearly at the crossroads. Yes, Jagr has been wonderful in a Rangers’ uniform since the lockout ended. His 54-goal season in 2004-05......

Photograph of Rangers coach Tom Renney (rear, center) and other Rangers players after the Penguins knocked them out of the playoffs by Gene J. Puskar/AP Pittsburgh 3 Rangers 2 OT: In the end it was another weird bounce that brought a close to the Rangers’ season. Dan Girardi tried to kick the puck out of the zone and instead of clearing it, deflected it right to Marian Hossa. Hossa deposited it past a surprised......

Rangers net go-ahead goal, by Ray Haddad at flickrRangers 3 Pittsburgh 0: If New York pulls off the impossible, coming back from a 3-0 deficit, the turning point will be a Henrik Lundqvist save in the second period when Pittsburgh had a penalty shot. Lundqvist’s save was only part of his great night as he made huge saves every time the Rangers needed one. Jarmoir Jagr played like this might have been his last......

Photograph of the Rangers and Penguins in a first period fight (three roughing penalties were charged to each team) at Madison Square Garden by Julie Jacobson/AP Pittsburgh 5 Rangers 3: Ryan Hollweg has a fantastic moustache, but his idiotic penalty probably cost the Rangers their season. New York fell behind right out of the gate with Marian Hossa scoring only a minute into the game. The Rangers tied things up, but Pittsburgh went ahead......

Rangers 2 Devils 1: If you were under the impression that these teams like each other, this game should clear that misconception up. New York and New Jersey spent sixty minutes Friday hitting and scrapping and when it was all over the Rangers had a huge victory and a big advantage in the series. Jaromir Jagr got things started with an amazing shot that beat Martin Brodeur off the short-side. Sean Avery scored only 23......

Rangers 3, Islanders 0: They don't know where they'll be seeded, but the Rangers are going back to the playoffs. Jaromir Jagr scored the first two goals in the first period, and the team never looked back. Even though many fans saw this as a foregone conclusion for the last several weeks, the Rangers weren't taking any chances. “It’s never been like that before,” Jagr said. “You don’t realize when the coach is telling......

Rangers 2, Penguins 1 (OT): Barring a Mets-like collapse, the Rangers will make the playoffs. Monday's victory probably boosted their spirits, too. Chris Drury scored in overtime after assisting on Jaromir Jagr's goal in regulation. At 93 points with three games remaining, the Rangers are one point away from clinching and tied with the Devils for the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference. But catching the Devils and the home ice in the first round......

Flyers 4 Rangers 3 (Shootout): Do you judge success by the final score or the effort it took to get there? Clearly, the final score is a disappointment, but when you consider the Rangers were trailing 2-0 with less than 10 minutes left, getting a point is somewhat of a victory. New York got back into the game with goals from Marek Malik and Nigel Dawes, but fell behind 3-2 when Daniel Briere scored at......

Rangers 3 Buffalo 2 (Shootout): The Rangers earned at least a point for the 13th-straight game and swept Buffalo in their season series with another big win Monday. Things got off to a bad start as Buffalo scored only 16 seconds into the first period, but the Rangers tied things up just over a minute later thanks to Fedor Tyutin. Jaromir Jagr netted his 18th to put New York up 2-1, but Buffalo tied things......

Photograph of Rangers Brandon Dubinsky and Jaromir Jagr celebrating Dubinsky's first period goal, with Hurricane Bret Hedican looking on, by Karl B DeBlake/AP Rangers 4 Carolina 2: It was the perfect blend of the old and the new for New York on Thursday. Brandon Dubinsky got things started for the Rangers with a great backhand off of the pretty feed from Jaromir Jagr. Sean Avery came off the bench at the right time to......

Rangers 4, Sabres 3: Not only did the Rangers exact some revenge for their defeat in last season's playoffs, but they improved their chances of qualifying for this postseason. Sean Avery broke a third-period tie and put the Rangers two points ahead of the Sabres in the race for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Jaromir Jagr, Brandon and Nigel Dawes also scored for the Rangers, who have picked up points in their last......

Rangers 4 Atlanta 0: Tom Renney shook up the lines and the lineup and the Rangers responded. Playing the opening game in their consecutive home game tilt with the Thrashers, New York set the tone early and played great defense allowing only 14 shots. Sean Avery, placed on the top line with Gomez and Jagr got things started with a goal at 12:12 of the first period. Brandon Dubinsky scored a few minutes later and......

Penguins 4, Rangers 1: Don't look now, but the Knicks aren't the only Madison Square Garden team in last place. Jaromir Jagr scored the Blueshirts' lone goal against his former team. The rest of the team seemed awed by Evgeni Malkin, who had a hat trick and led the Penguins to an easy victory. New York has 47 points in 46 games, and, despite being a game over .500, sits in the unenviable ninth spot......

Devils 2, Sabres 1 (SO): Aggressive play cost the Devils the win in regulation, but Martin Brodeur, Brian Gionta and Patrik Elias too center stage in the shootout to allow the Devils to continue their home dominance. They have picked up 21 of 22 points at their new Prudential Center in the last 11 games. Things didn't look so rosy when Jason Pominville tied the game with 1:47 to go, but the Devils bounced......

Rangers 4 Montreal 3 (OT): The Rangers played one of their most uneven games of the season, but they turned it on when they needed to and got the win. Daniel Girardi and Jaromir Jagr scored in the first period to give New York a 2-1 lead heading into the second. And that’s where the Rangers went to sleep, getting only one shot in the period while the Canadiens built a 3-2 lead. That’s where......

Rangers 6, Maple Leafs 1: Nothing like making opponents pay dearly for their trips to the penalty box. The Rangers scored five of their six goals on the power play -- Blair Betts' icebreaker was the only even-strength goal -- and won their second straight game. This came against a Maple Leafs team that has struggled in the Northeast Division this season, but that won't bother Petr Prucha (two goals) or Jaromir jagr (one goal,......

Rangers 4 Carolina 2: Putting Gomez on the top line certainly looked like a smart decision Wednesday. Gomez fed Jarmoir Jagr, helping him get nine shots and setting him up on both of his goals in the Rangers’ win. Chris Drury and Dan Girardi also scored for New York. The game was stopped midway through the second period after an ugly collision between Colton Orr and former Ranger Matt Cullen. Cullen took this worst of......

Rangers 4, Islanders 2: It's a good thing these teams play each other eight times each season. Otherwise, the Rangers might have a confidence problem. Given enough opportunities to beat a particular opponent, any team is bound to cash in sooner or later. After losing the first three games against the Islanders, the Blueshirts finally broke through. Jaromir Jagr and Chris Drury each had a goal and an assist against Rick DiPietro. The Islanders still......

Stars 3, Rangers 2: What good is outshooting the opponent 41-18 if it doesn't lead to a win? That's what the Rangers have to ask themselves after Sunday's disappointing loss to the Stars. No matter how this game is measured -- except for the score that is -- the Rangers appeared to outplay the Stars. Mike Smith repeatedly stifled the Blueshirts' attack, however, and goals from Jaromir Jagr and Brendan Shanahan didn't end up as......

Devils 3, Thrashers 0: Martin Brodeur earned his first shutout of the season -- and the 93rd of his career -- and the Devils are at .500 again. Rod Pelley and Paul Martin had the two non-empty-net goals for the Devils. Jamie Langenbrunner tied an NHL record by assisting on all of his team's goals. After that early-season road trip, the Devils appear to have their skates back under them. Panthers 3, Rangers 2 (SO):......

Rangers 4, Devils 2: Given New Jersey's recent dominance over its cross-river rivals, Martin Brodeur's picking up his 500th win against Rangers would have seemed appropriate. Jaromir Jagr and Henrik Lunqvist had other ideas. Lundqvist stopped 22 shots and Jagr added a goal and an assist as the Rangers on the Prudential Center ice. Even defenseman Marc Staal got into the act. Jamie Langenbrunner had two goals for the home team, whose fans eagerly booed......

Rangers 2 Philadelphia 0: These teams really do not like each other and it was evident early on Monday night. The gloves came off just 54 seconds into the game and another fight broke out seven minutes in. That ended the boxing portion of the evening, but both teams continued to hit hard and often in a physical contest at MSG. The Rangers dominated the first period, but would have had nothing to show......

Maybe all the Rangers needed was a punch in the mouth. Not a punch per se, but a high stick that knocked some teeth out of Jaromir Jagr’s mouth. Jagr shook off the hit and the Rangers shook off the malaise that has plagues their power play all season with two goals in the third to win 3-1 over Tampa Bay. New York took an early lead in the first period on Nigel Dawes’ third......

Rangers 3, Capitals 1: Jaromir Jagr didn't break his scoreless drought to start the season, but he did help Scott Gomez end his. That was the first of three first-period goals -- all on the power-play -- that led the Rangers to their win. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 24 of 25 shots to pick up the win and help the Rangers even their record at 2-2. Martin Straka and defenseman Michal Rozsival also scored. Maybe it......

You may not have noticed that the NHL season started last weekend. While two games between two California teams in London may not have captured your interest, the three local teams that begin play tomorrow and the next few nights will all be fascinating stories throughout the season. No team enters the season with bigger expectations than the Rangers. After landing two big centers in free agency, Chris Drury and Scott Gomez, New York......

Sabres 2 Rangers 1: The Rangers were eight seconds away from winning this game and taking a 3-2 lead in the series when Chris Drury netted the game-tying goal. Up until that point, the Rangers had played a great game, but anyone who watched the final minute of regulation has to wonder why Jaromir Jagr was on the ice? After taking a 1-0 lead with just over three minutes left, the Rangers needed to play......

For some inexplicable reason, the NHL has scheduled all three local clubs to start their playoff chase tonight and to overlap with each other most nights. Because of that, fans of the various teams should get to know this website to figure out where they can watch the games. As for the actual series, the Islanders have clearly drawn the toughest test. Buffalo started out the season on fire and hasn’t let up, earning the......

Rangers 3, Canadiens 1: Last season saw the Rangers start quickly before backing into the playoffs. Their quick dismissal by the Devils took plenty of the luster off a turnaround season. This season, the Rangers couldn't find a groove until recently, when they have played well and looked like a team that can make a dent in the playoffs. They can be carried by Jaromir Jagr -- who scored a goal and added an assist......