News: Curtis McElhinney signed a one-year, one-way contract with the Blue Jackets, the Columbus Dispatch's Aaron Portzline reports.
Analysis: Curtis McElhinney spent the 2012-13 season with AHL Springfield, going 29-16-3 with a 2.32 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage.
News: Coach Darryl Sutter said Jarret Stoll (head) skated for 15 minutes Friday but remains "a long ways off," the LA Times' Helene Elliot reports.
Analysis: While he may not be close to returning to game action, it is definitely good to see him back on the ice for the first time since suffering a head injury in Game 1 of the second-round series against the Sharks. However, he still has not been cleared for contact, and it is unknown when he will be able to play again.
News: Chris Kreider did not practice with the team Friday, reports Jim Cerny.
Analysis: After scoring Thursday's game-winner, Chris Kreider gets another maintenance day. Nothing to worry about, it appears head coach John Tortorella is trying to keep the youngster's legs fresh.
News: Rick Nash was a plus-2 and had an assist on Chris Kreider's game-winning overtime goal in Thursday's 4-3 win over Boston.
Analysis: After collecting just one assist through the first six games of the playoffs, Rick Nash is a plus-4 with a goal and three assists in his last five games.
News: Brian Boyle scored a power-play goal during Thursday's 4-3 overtime victory over Boston.
Analysis: A season-long member of head coach John Tortorella's dog house, Brian Boyle's goal helped snap an abysmal 0-for-23 streak for the Blueshirts. It also snapped a five game point scoring drought for the veteran center.
News: Andrew Ference (lower body) missed practice Friday.
Analysis: Andrew Ference is currently dealing with a lower-body injury and has yet to play in the second-round series against the Rangers. His status for Saturday's Game 5 is unknown.
News: Derick Brassard had two helpers in a 4-3 overtime win over Boston on Thursday.
Analysis: Derick Brassard also won 11 of 17 faceoffs in the win. Received in the Marian Gaborik deadline deal with Columbus, Brassard leads the Rangers with 12 points and is ranked sixth in NHL playoff scoring heading into Friday's action.
News: Derek Stepan contributed a goal and an assist in Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over Boston.
Analysis: Derek Stepan snuck in behind the Boston net, swiped the puck from Zedeno Chara for a wrap around by Tuukka Rask, notching the game-tying goal early in the third period. It's the third year center's first point since Game 1 and fifth point overall in 11 playoff contests this season.
News: Ryan McDonagh had an assist and blocked three shots on goal during Thursday's 4-3 overtime defeat of Boston.
Analysis: Ryan McDonagh also logged a team-high, 29-plus minutes of ice time. More intriguing moving forward, head coach John Tortorella said he regrets not having used the defenseman on his team's slumping power play earlier, reports Jim Cerny of the Rangers' website. Through four games against second round opponent Boston, McDonagh has a goal and two assists.
News: Ryane Clowe (undisclosed) did not practice Friday, the Bergen Record's Andrew Gross reports.
Analysis: Ryane Clowe has yet to play in the second-round series against the Bruins. His status for Saturday's Game 5 is unknown.
