New York Rangers: Brashear Returns to The Lineup, Christensen/Kotalik Scratched

According to Andrew Gross on Twitter, John Tortorella has elected to shake things up for tonight's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden, scratching forward Erik Christensen to allow enforcer Donald Brashear back into the lineup after leaving him to watch from the press box for five straight games.

Whether or not this is being done just for the sake of changing the look of the lineup, or to help create the physical look this team apparently wants and everyone has been talking about, was not detailed, but I would guess the latter.

Anyway, the more important thing to look at here is the fact that Erik Christensen has gone from playing very well on the first line with Marian Gaborik to once again being a healthy scratch.

I said it after the first game that the waiver-wire acquisition was placed with Gaborik—his production would certainly not last like many hoped it would.

Christensen has been a streaky player his whole career and has always been in and out of the lineup for every team he has played for. That is why General Manager Glen Sather was questioned when making the move for Erik.

Lastly, this will be the sixth straight contest in which Ales Kotalik will be scratched, which would contradict Ales' statement denying the recent rumor that he has requested a trade from the Rangers.

Tortorella may be harsh, but he would not normally keep Kotalik's bomb from the point off the ice for this long, especially during a struggle to score goals. While it has not been confirmed, all fingers are pointing at that rumor being true.

Back with pregame Later.....