According to Steve Zipay, the Rangers have placed forward Dan Fritsche on waivers. If he is claimed, or if he is reassigned to Hartford, the Rangers will save approximately $360,000 in cap space.

The Rangers are back in action tonight against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes (7:00pm – MSG) and Stephen Valiquette will be in net. The Canes have struggled with offense but got great goaltending from Cam Ward in the two games prior to the All-Star break, when he stopped 67 of 68 shots to shutout the Leafs and backstop Carolina to a 2-1 win over Pittsburgh.

Speaking of Pittsburgh, Henrik Lundqvist is expected to be back in net on Wednesday night to possibly face Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. Crosby skated with the team, but remains questionable.

It’s a tough start coming out of the All-Star break, with the Rangers facing the 8th and 9th placed teams on back-to-back nights. The Blueshirts have work to do according to the Post, though 14 of 16 teams in the past two years have retained their playoff spots coming out of the break.

Rounding out the Rangers coverage, the Journal News has a few more quotes as the team prepares for the final stretch, and likewise the Charlotte News Observer profiles the Hurricanes push to the playoffs.

PlanetUSA won the AHL All-Star game 14-11, with Artem Anisimov scoring a goal and adding two assists. Bob Sanguinetti didn’t end up getting to play in the game.