Retooled Rangers eye Cup

BY NOW, it seems, the anguish of last spring’s gutting second-round loss to Ottawa has disappeared. The returning Rangers who had to stew on that six-game defeat knowing they had only themselves to blame have had enough time to take out their frustrations throughout the summer.

Stanley Cup dreams beckon once again for these reshaped Rangers with a new season beginning Thursday night against Colorado at the Garden, and past ignominy is no longer a source of motivation.

“It’s a page turned,” J.T. Miller said Wednesday after the team’s final practice before opening night. “We’re ready for this season. I think it’s a new year. Our focus is getting in, but I think we’re a long way from there. We’re gonna worry about Twitter.

Carolina spokesman Steven Drummond said in a statement to The Associated Press that Newton had a conversation with Rodrigue after the news conference ended and expressed regret for his remarks. (Thursday) and be prepared as we can be.”

Plenty of variables exist for the Rangers within what could be an even tougher Metropolitan Division this season. Will Kevin Shattenkirk’s homecoming lead to an elite power play and greater stability to Ryan McDonagh’s right side? Can 18-yearold Filip Chytil dazzle right away? Are all their 20-somethings up front ready and able to take another step forward?

And of course, above all other uncertainty is whether Henrik Lundqvist’s worst season of his career last year is the sign of an aging, franchise goaltender beginning to decline or if it’s just one down season as he prepares for his 13th NHL campaign.

Lundqvist is lighter this season at 180 pounds, down about

Rodrigue released a statement through The Charlotte Observer via email saying that Newton did not apologize when they spoke after the news conference.

She said she “was dismayed by his response, which not only belittled me but countless other five pounds from last year. He’s dropped weight now the last two years after playing for seven to eight seasons at what he said was give-or-take 200 pounds. The 35-year-old believes the weight loss is beneficial.

“You just save energy,” he said recently. “You go up and down a few hundred times every practice. My legs feel fresher, I feel like I have more energy.” His focus now is working with the muscles he has rather than trying to get stronger, performing smaller exercises to keep himself in shape while taking care of his hips, knees and shoulders.

“(Lundqvist has) looked real sharp for me in camp,” said Alain Vigneault, who began and finished his Wednesday press conference with “Let’s go Yankees” after the Bombers’ Tuesday

RANGERS VS. AVALANCHE 7:00 on MSG

With the AP wild-card win. “He’s focused, he’s determined, he’s motivated. He’s ready to go, and we’re gonna need him to play well.”

Jitters still creep in for Lundqvist all these years later, anxious to see how he’ll perform after months away and how his team will come together, eagerly awaiting another run toward the Cup.

“You miss it,” Lundqvist said. “You miss the action, the adrenaline you feel out there, and that’ll never change.”