Sitting at last nights game, it was great to be back at the Garden.  Good crowd for a preseason game.

A few thoughts, tidbits..

-Looking at Evgeny Grachev and Artem Anisimov, I saw two big players, but both looked very passive.  They are both very young, but looking at Anisimov, I thought to myself and said to EJ Hradek: “How did this guy score 37 goals last year in Hartford?  Sometimes you don’t even notice he is out there.”

-Despite getting boo’d by the crowd, one crunching hit on Jamie Langenbrunner or Kyle Okposo and Donald Brashear will be a crowd favorite.  I saw him after the game at Local West, and he is a monster, and seems like a very friendly guy.

-Matt Gilroy is very aggressive on both ends of the ice.  A more offensive Dan Girardi.

-Who the hell is Matt Maccarone?

-After looking a little sluggish in the first period, Chris Higgins really skated hard and made play.

-Loved Michael Del Zotto on the PP, but thought he passed up on a few chances to shoot the puck, but that’s a Ranger tradition.

-Saw Sean Avery outside the media room before the game handing out postcards for his bar, “Warren 77.’  He was shaking hands and taking pictures with fans.  His notable line was telling a fan to get rid of his Scott Gomez jersey.

On tonight-

-Looking forward to seeing Sean Avery and Vinny Prospal playing on the same line, as they may play together during the season.

-I liked the speed that Enver Lisin brought last night — he may be a better version of Fred Sjostrom.