NY Rangers Fans

Brian Leetch's first trip back to the New York area ended with the star defenseman limping toward the Boston Bruins' bus.
So much for a happy homecoming.
Leetch, who spent his first 17-plus NHL seasons with the New York Rangers, injured his right knee Tuesday night when he collided with New York Islanders forward Shawn Bates during the second period of the Bruins' 4-3 overtime loss.
He walked gingerly after the game, not needing crutches but wearing a small brace.
"My knee is sore, but we'll find out (Wednesday)," Leetch said.
He hadn't been back to play in the metropolitan area since March 2004 when the Rangers traded him to Toronto as part of a salary purge. This certainly wasn't the way he wanted to return or go out.
The 37-year-old defenseman, in his first season with the Bruins, had never had a knee injury since entering the NHL in 1988. His first occurred with about three minutes left in the middle period as he and Bates went for the puck.
"I didn't see the puck in the dasher, I thought it was going down the boards," Leetch said in a dejected tone. "All of a sudden it was in front of me. So I went for it, and he dove and crashed into my knee.
"It was either his helmet or his shoulder that hit my knee.''
Bates scored the winning goal with only 28.2 seconds left in overtime.
Leetch, who signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Bruins this summer, expected to go for tests and to see doctors Wednesday. Because he felt pain on the inside of his knee, the two-time Norris Trophy winner speculated that he injured his medial collateral ligament.
"Eighteen years ago, my left knee I hurt. I've never had a knee injury in the pros," Leetch said.
When asked if a week off the ice might be the best-case scenario, Leetch was able to smile and crack a joke.
"Best case, I'll be better tomorrow," he said.
It was too early to know if Leetch would be back in time to face the Rangers for the first time in Madison Square Garden on Nov. 20.
On Long Island, he is still the enemy, having scored 23 goals in his career against the Islanders — his second-highest total among opponents. On Broadway, he would surely receive a hero's welcome from the crowd that never really got a chance to say goodbye.
Coach Mike Sullivan was already figuring that Leetch wouldn't play Thursday when the Bruins return home to face Florida.
"They don't think it's real serious, but obviously enough to keep him out of our lineup," Sullivan said.
Leetch wasn't examined by doctors Tuesday night.
Born in Texas, Leetch grew up in Connecticut and played one season at Boston College. He hasn't faced the Rangers anywhere since the trade and only played the Islanders in Toronto.
He has three goals and five assists in 14 games this season. In 1,158 regular-season games — all but 29 with New York — Leetch has 245 goals and 759 assists.
Leetch ranks seventh on the career points list among NHL defenseman and sixth among American-born players at any position with 1,004.
This just added to the Bruins' injury woes.
Boston is already without top goalie Andrew Raycroft (hamstring); defenseman Ian Moran (knee); center Alex Zhamnov (shoulder); and right winger Pat Leahy (broken finger).
The Bruins had former Islanders forward Brad Isbister back in the lineup Tuesday, following a three-game absence due to a groin injury. But he also left in the second period after he hurt it again.