3:10PM: In an update at the Hartford Courant, Paul Doyle writes that MSG also looked at calling the team the Connecticut Wolf Pack but the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Isles AHL affiliate, objected.
12:36PM: According to a report in the Hartford Courant the Rangers AHL affiliate will no longer be called the Connecticut Whale and will instead go back to being called the Hartford Wolf Pack.
The Courant writes that MSG and the state of Connecticut have been talking about changing the name for some time and at one point the idea of calling the team the Hartford Rangers was considered.
The Wolf Pack will be in Hartford until at least 2016.
The Wolf Pack became the Whale during the 2010-11 season when the team allowed former Whalers owner Howard Baldwin to assume management control of the team.
According to Steve Zipay at Newsday, the Rangers non-playing taxi squad for their playoff run is expected to include JT Miller, Dylan McIlrath and Kris Newbury.
In the NY Post, Brett Cyrgalis writes that it is likely the Rangers will bring up 5-7 players when the team returns from their road trip later this week.
He lists the possible call ups as JT Miller, Brandon Mashinter, Benn Ferriero, Brandon Segal, Dylan McIlrath and Mike Vernace.
These players will practice on their own but spend time around the team so to get a feel for being around a team in the playoffs.
Last year, the Rangers called up Cam Talbot, Casey Wellman, Tim Erixon, Kris Newbury, JT Miller and Dylan McIlrath.
Dylan McIlrath: A fight, roughing penalties and a high sticking penalty
Ryan Bourque: Minus 1
JT Miller: assist, one shot, minus one
Marek Hrivik: one shot
Chris Kreider: Minus 2, NO SHOTS
Conor Allen: Minus 1
Christian Thomas: assist, one shot, plus one
The Whale are currently in eighth place with 79 points. Manchester, ninth place, has one game in hand and is two points behind. Norfolk also has 79 points but has one game in hand.
They are 4-5-1 in their last ten and have lost their last four games.
Stu Bickel was a minus one, had three shots and had a hooking penalty
Kyle Jean had a tripping penalty
Ryan Bourque was a minus one
JT Miller had one shot
Marek Hrivik didn’t register on the score sheet
Chris Kreider had a goal, three shots and a roughing penalty and a tripping penalty
Christian Thomas had one shot
Cam Talbot stopped 42 of 44 shots.
The Whale lines, according to Bob Crawford, saw Chris Kreider skated with Kris Newbury and Benn Ferriero, JT Miller with Brandon Mashinter and Brandon Segal, Christian Thomas with Michael Haley and Marek Hrivik, Kyle Jean with Brandon Bourque and Kyle Palmieri.
Jesper Fast is banged up and likely out for the rest of the regular season.
Jesper Fast: Goal, plus one, 1 shot and a goalie interference penalty
Chris Kreider: two assists and one shot
Christian Thomas: one assist, plus one, no shots
Cam Talbot with 21 saves
Kris Newbury: Three assists
Great game tonight little tired now but i guess it s normal on first game after 3 months.wanna also thank the fans for the support!!— Marek Hrivik (@Hrivo15) April 06, 2013
2:16PM: According to Paul Doyle of the Hartford Courant, Madison Square Garden has decided to keep the Rangers AHL team named the Whale.
They reportedly considered alternatives names but decided to stay with the Whale.
12:57PM: Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy has announced that MSG and Global Spectrum have come to terms on a new lease for the Rangers minor league affiliate to play at the XL Center in Hartford.
Paul Doyle of the Hartford Courant writes that the lease is through 2016 with a provision that could extend the deal for two more years.
