Christensen was traded to Minnesota for Casey Wellman earlier this season.

Lev Praha is the team that Marcel Hossa plays for.

[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/#!/AGrossRecord/status/132199783770238976"]

http://youtu.be/qsWNn1bOCl4

Christensen had two assists last night, his first points of the season.

He is so great to listen to in the postgame. Brutally honest about everything, very candid, and by all accounts a really great guy. It is the same broken record for almost two years now, but if only he could get over that mental block and bring this every night. Whether he felt the pressure of Sean Avery or last night was just one of his nights, it was great to see.

This is one the things that I thought of when I saw that Avery was scratched. Torts probably wanted to see EC on the wing and in different situations which could provide more depth in the lineup. I am on record as preferring EC to Avery for the last spot, but I really have no idea who will get it. My money is still on Sean Avery to get it even though I would prefer Christensen to.

...This was the best he had played all season, with the exception of his goal against Chicago, and while it is probably unlikely that he plays at this level consistently, the Rangers would get another level of offense and skill if he did.

?When I get out there, I have to try to make a difference,? Christensen said. ?If you make a difference, he?s gonna put you back out there. That?s how I?m gonna get more ice time. ? I wish it was different, but it?s just not right now. I?m trying to change it, and sometimes I don?t know how to change it. It?s not the role I want or think I can do, but a lot of it falls on my shoulders. It?s coming, and making sure I?m competing hard, and when I have a chance to use my skill, that I use it.?

... We will see how the lines shake out with Wojtek Wolski out of the lineup, but it would certainly be big if Christensen could get going. Even if the streaky but productive Erik Christensen came. The Rangers need to take every game on it's own and do what they can to win each game without real regard for the next. So if Erik Christensen helps them win tonight but is invisible tomorrow, at least he helped them win tonight.

"He's a skilled guy & he's going to add to us, something we need, & I think he'll fit right in...he's excited to play"

...I like Christensen and for a while I thought he was the best player to center Marian Gaborik. Right now, he is the Rangers fourth line center but he is decent on faceoffs and is another ace in the shootout. Christensen is a self-described head case but if he can harness some of that talent that he has, he could add another level to the Rangers attack. That of course is easier said than done.

?I?m still a ways away in my conditioning, I?ll tell you that. A lot of hard work away. I need to be skated pretty good here the next couple of days, because these guys are in shape and I don?t like lagging behind and feel like I?m out of place. I definitely don?t want to feel like that, especially because the team, considering all our absent guys, been playing pretty well and picking up points. So you want to make sure you come in and you?re ready and ready to contribute.?

Darren Dreger said yesterday that Christensen would be ready by Saturday.

...I guess physically he will be ready to play on Saturday but he needs to get into shape before he can think about coming back. The competition for spots is only going to get tighter and a slight mis-step could cost Christensen from a regular spot in the lineup.

...If he could do that without crashing into the net it would be a lot better, or does crashing into the net give it that little extra oomph

"It's about trying to make a difference," Tortorella said of Christensen. "It's been brought to his attention and we'll continue to work with him on that, but sooner or later the player has to take a hold of it."

...I am a Christensen fan, but he hasn't done much to warrant his spot with Alex Frolov so far. He has spurts, but doesn't bring the same intensity on every shift. I believe that when John Tortorella looks at Christensen he sees a talented guy who can contribute and playing in the top six, he was a third round pick, but they need to come to a place where Tortorella's motivation meets Christensen's talent level and he shows it on the ice.

?Gaby and I played well together last year,? said Prospal. ?And from watching Frolov in years past, the thing that stands out is how strong he is on the puck, especially in the corners. And there is the motivating factor because he?s coming off a tough season. There?s nothing better than to prove people wrong, and that?s what he wants to do.?

...he gets his shot tonight and if he doesn't totally distinguish himself, I wonder what happens tomorrow. Does Derek Stepan, Erik Christensen and Vinny all get one period to prove something. Shall be interested to see

?I know with every team and in every city the media and the fans think that ?we need this, we need that, to succeed.' But where are you going to get that No. 1 center or top defenseman all the time? It?s tough. There are only so many legit guys like that. So you have to build your team, mostly, from within. And watching some of the young guys we have here, that is definitely the way to go. Bring the kids along. You don?t need to do it always by trading or buying other guys.?

...I, for one, think that Derek Stepan can be that guy, that No. 1 center, but the question is whether he can be that this year. Someone needs to center Frolov and Gaborik, and Christensen is a nice player, but he's not the kind of playmaker who's going to help those two elevate their game. I don't know if Prospal is it either.