When: Monday, October 31, 7:00 p.m.

Opponent: vs. San Jose (6-3-0)

TV: MSG

UPDATE: Biron will start tonight. (10:53 a.m.)

UPDATE: Artem Anisimov is skating this morning and should be good to go tonight. (10:36 a.m.)

EARLIER: The marathon road trip is behind New York, but the Blueshirts have dropped their first two home games and their level of play hasn’t improved.

It’s hardly time to panic - the team sits at 3-3-3 and has dealt with a lot of adversity this season - but there’s a sense that patience has run out and things must change around the organization.

Rumors that left wing Sean Avery will be recalled on Monday and a swap of players from Connecticut on Sunday showed that the Blueshirts are no longer willing to stand pat.  The status quo isn’t good enough; otherwise the team wouldn’t be considering an Avery return.

John Tortorella has continued to tinker with lines as the coach seeks some supporting offense for rejuvenated right wing Marian Gaborik, but thus far he hasn’t found a combination that works.

On Monday we’ll likely see Gaborik skate alongside Derek Stepan and Wojtek Wolski while Brad Richards skates with Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan again.

Gaborik has been scoring regardless of whom he’s played with, but New York is still searching for contributions from players like Dubinsky, Stepan and Artem Anisimov.

Callahan has shown signs of breaking through his early drought and Richards is coming off a three-point night, but more Blueshirts must continue to produce offense on a consistent basis.

After a terrific start to the season defensively considering the circumstances, New York has now allowed eight goals in its last two games.

No more could have been asked of Henrik Lundqvist and a bunch of youngsters on the blueline, so the Blueshirts must begin to see more offensive production.

Defenseman Tim Erixon was returned to the CT Whale, which means that Jeff Woywitka will return to the blueline for Monday’s tilt. 

Martin Biron will likely be in net as the Rangers will probably give Lundqvist his second rest of the season.

Biron will have to contend with the perennial powerhouse San Jose Sharks, who started the season just 1-3-0, but have now won five-straight and have outscored opponents 18-10 in that span. 

San Jose has the NHL’s fourth-ranked power play, fifth-ranked offense and has allowed the eighth-fewest goals per game in the NHL, but the Sharks have struggled mightily on the penalty kill.  Opponents have scored at least once on the power play in three consecutive games and the Sharks have allowed a man advantage goal in six of their nine matches so far.

New York has shown signs of waking up on the power play recently, so that could be an area the Rangers will exploit.

- Probable lines for Mondays game:

Wojtek Wolski/Derek Stepan/Marian Gaborik

Brandon Dubinsky/Brad Richards/Ryan Callahan

Ruslan Fedotenko/Brian Boyle/ Brandon Prust

Erik Christensen/Artem Anisimov/Andre Deveaux

- Tortorella seems very concerned about Mike Rupp’s knee and acknowledged that surgery could be an option.

- Michael Del Zotto is expected to play despite sitting out Sunday’s practice with a hip injury.

- Artem Anisimov also sat out practice with a stiff neck but should play against the Sharks.

2011-2012 season:

Eastern Conference Preview > (10/3/11)

Western Conference Preview > (10/4/11)

Experts Predict Where The Rangers Will Finish > (10/5/11)

NY Rangers Season Preview > (10/5/11)

Rangers Claim Jeff Woywitka Off Waivers > (10/6/11) 

“The King” Vs. The Kings In Season-Opener > (10/7/11)

Penalties Doom Rangers In OT Loss To Kings > (10/7/11)

To Duck Anaheim, Rangers Must Stay Out Of The Box > (10/7/11)

No Offense, But Rangers Pick Up Another Point > (10/8/11)

Tim Erixon Will Stick Around For The Time Being > (10/9/11)

Lessons Learned: Two Games In The Books > (10/10/11)

Time To Move Stepan To First-Line Left Wing > (10/10/11)

Rangers Show Early Improvement With Faceoffs > (10/11/11)

Missing Vinny > (10/13/11)

Rangers Must Find A Way With Patchwork Defense > (10/14/11)

New Top Line Shows Promise, But Rangers Have No Answer For John Tavares > (10/15/11)

Stats To Chew On > (10/17/11)

Zuccarello's Future On Broadway In Doubt > (10/17/11)

Rangers Must Slow The Sedins, Score Some Goals > (10/18/11)

Henrik Lundqvist Beats The Canucks, With A Little Help In The Third Period > (10/19/11)

All Is Not Well In Ranger-land > (10/19/11)

Another Slow Start Might Not Cut It Against Calgary > (10/19/11)

McDonagh Scores Winner With Just Over 1 Second Remaining In OT >(10/20/11)

The Path To New York Is Clearing Quickly For Carl Hagelin And Ryan Bourque > (10/21/11)

Rangers Seek Third Win In A Row Against Renney’s Crew > (10/22/11)

Crisis Averted As Rangers Are Shutout By Edmonton > (10/23/11)

Whirlwind Road Trip Concludes In Winnipeg On Monday > (10/24/11)

Stats To Chew On > (10/24/11)

Two Parts Of The Recipe Change And New York Wins > (10/24/11)

Lessons Learned: Seven Games In The Books > (10/26/11)

Home Cookin’ At Last > (10/27/11)

Without Great Goaltending, New York Had No Chance > (10/27/11)

60 Minutes > (10/28/11)

Rangers Blow Three-Goal Lead And Lose In Shootout > (10/29/11)

Surprise! Rangers To Recall Sean Avery > (10/30/11)

Searching For Offense > (10/31/11)

Click here for our full 2011-2012 Season Archive >

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